Aqueous media offer a sustainable framework for catalysis, spanning the continuum from single amino acid–based organocatalysis to complex enzymatic systems. Within this landscape, catalytic peptides have emerged as a pivotal intermediary class. This field is rapidly expanding, driven by the inherent modularity of peptide sequences and advancements in synthetic methodology. Notably, the catalytic efficacy of these systems is inextricably linked to their folding and aggregation behavior in water. Investigating these peptide-based architectures provides critical insights into noncovalent catalytic networks, ultimately refining our understanding of enzymatic mechanisms and facilitating the design of biomimetic catalysts.
Over the past decades, micellar catalysis has evolved from a conceptual curiosity into a powerful platform for conducting organic transformations under aqueous conditions with efficiencies that often exceed those observed in traditional organic solvents. Despite these advances, fundamental understanding of the underlying principles governing reactions in micellar systems is lagging behind. Consequently, the development of new reactions in micellar systems still relies heavily on empirical screenings and chemists’ intuition rather than predictive design. Herein, we discuss recent advances in elucidating micellar systems, through the synergistic application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods and the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS) modeling. Rather than providing an exhaustive review, we highlight key conceptual insights into substrate localization and the micellar microenvironment, that emerged from integrating experimental and theoretical approaches. We argue that the continued convergence of advanced spectroscopic techniques with predictive computational methods will eventually move micellar catalysis beyond empirical optimization toward a more rational design strategy.
Acyl transfer is a fundamental reaction for forming amide and ester bonds, which are essential in various research fields, including pharmaceutical design and bioconjugation. While widely used in synthetic chemistry, conventional acyl transfer typically relies on water-sensitive reagents or the use of organic solvents, often resulting in limited selectivity and poor compatibility with aqueous and biological environments. In contrast, living systems achieve efficient and selective acyl transfer in water through molecular recognition and spatial organization based on non-covalent interactions. Recent advances have begun to translate these proximity effects into artificial systems.This review summarizes emerging strategies for site- and target-selective acyl transfer in aqueous environments enabled by proximity effects via non-covalent interactions. We discuss how tuning intrinsic electrophilicity in combination with non-covalent interactions, self-assembly, and ligand-directed recognition can control reactivity and selectivity under aqueous conditions. Examples spanning prebiotic chemistry, site-selective modification of proteins and RNA, targeted protein degradation, covalent drug design, and in vivo chemical labeling illustrate how spatial proximity contributes to selectivity across multiple scales.From a sustainability perspective, proximity-controlled acyl transfer provides an alternative to strategies that require highly reactive acyl donors and organic solvents. These approaches may reduce the need for excess reagent, simplify purification, and improve compatibility with complex biological systems, providing valuable insights into green and sustainable chemistry as well as selective bioconjugation.
Animal co-products from the global red meat industry are a substantial underutilised resource within the circular bioeconomy. Although most are directed into conventional, high-volume applications, emerging research demonstrates opportunities to convert them into higher-value products, including biomaterials, biomedical products, renewable energy, functional feed ingredients, and advanced fertilisers. This review examines recent advances in non-food valorisation pathways and explores the emerging potential of AI to support extraction efficiency, process optimisation, and value-chain decision-making. Despite technical progress at laboratory and pilot scales, commercial adoption remains limited, creating a gap between innovation and implementation known as the “missing middle.” The review argues for a shift from isolated technology development towards integrated value-chain approaches that combine techno-economic assessment, life-cycle analysis, data-driven modelling, and modular biorefinery concepts. Greater collaboration among researchers, industry, investors, and policymakers will be essential to reduce waste, create new revenue streams, de-risk scale-up, and deliver sustainable circular economy benefits at scale.
