Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. They are essential for life, as they play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as digestion, ...

Many chemical reactions require the input of energy to activate the transformation. This can often be in the form of heat, or chemical energy. One of the most efficient ways of introducing energy into ...

Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists have developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods.

A new enzyme-inspired, small-molecule catalyst developed at the University of Illinois holds alcohols and alkenes in just the right proximity and position to join into ethers, key functional ...