Project Grant 2244638

This $369,285 National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry Project Grant supports the development of novel nonaqueous solvents known as "water-like ionic liquids" for use in enzymatic carbon-carbon bond formation reactions. Principal investigators Dr. Hua Zhao of the University of Northern Colorado and Dr. Gary Baker of the University of Missouri-Columbia, along with collaborator Dr. Katie Mitchell-Koch of Wichita State University, are designing dual-functionalized ionic liquids that mimic the hydrogen bonding properties of water to enable hydrolase enzymes like lipases, proteases, and D-aminoacylase to function and catalyze asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation via Michael additions in a nonaqueous environment. Molecular dynamics simulations conducted by Dr. Mitchell-Koch will provide insight into how proteins interact with these "water-like" ionic liquids to guide further solvent design. This new biocatalytic reaction-solvent system has potential for numerous applications and will increase understanding of enzymatic carbon-carbon bond formation reactions. The University of Minnesota Office of Sponsored Projects Administration is the awardee managing the Project Grant, which was awarded on October 1, 2022 under the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program.