1.5.1 Racemization and Epimerization

Abstract Biocatalytic racemization represents the reversible interconversion of an enantiomer to its mirror image and is catalyzed by racemases. In the context of organic synthesis, it represents the key step to turn a kinetic resolution into a dynamic process. In contrast, sugar isomerases, acting as intramolecular oxidoreductases, are a subclass of isomerases and catalyze the interconversion of aldoses into ketoses, which finds application in the biotechnological production of (unnatural) rare sugars. The field of enzymatic isomerization is complemented by (carbohydrate) epimerization, alkene E/Z-isomerization, and mutase-catalyzed rearrangement reactions.