Water exclusion and enantioselectivity in catalysis

High and dry. Enzymes perform catalyses in the interior of the protein, which is not aqueous in character. Polyethylenimine enzyme mimics with a hydrophobic core also achieve high rates by excluding water. Two different approaches to the synthesis of such artificial enzymes with chirally attached side chains are described, as well as the use of these enzymes in performing biomimetic transaminations with chiral selectivity.