Enzymes are not green. And that is exactly why we should use them.
While biocatalysis is often celebrated as a sustainable alternative to traditional catalysis, Chapter 2 of Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Natural Products and Complex Small Molecules takes a deliberately different view.
In The Use of Enzymes Invites a Rethinking of Synthesis, Thomas Classen, A. S. Klein and J. Pietruszka argue that enzymes are not inherently green catalysts; their real strength lies in exceptional selectivity.
Using enzymes therefore means more than replacing one catalyst with another: it calls for a fundamental rethink of synthesis strategy. As the authors put it: Promiscuity is not a bug, it is a feature.
The chapter highlights enzymatic C–C bond formation and offers a concise, forward-looking perspective on how biocatalysts can reshape the synthesis of complex molecules.
For readers interested in natural product synthesis, drug discovery, biocatalysis or modern retrosynthetic planning, the entire volume is warmly recommended. We sincerely thank Frank Hahn and the RCS for the constructive collaboration.