The project by Daniele Fiorito, a researcher in the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering ‘Giulio Natta’, is one of the four new Politecnico di Milano projects that have been awarded funding under the Fondo Italiano per la Scienza (FIS2 Call), a programme for basic research established by the Ministry of Universities and Research to support fundamental research in Italy by funding the work of emerging and established researchers. The Fondo Italiano per la Scienza (FIS) is modelled on the European Research Council (ERC) and promotes high-level scientific projects led by researchers affiliated with Italian research institutions.

NESOC - Novel Enzymatic Strategies for Organoboron Chemistry, with over €1.3 million in funding, aims to transform the field of organic synthesis through biocatalysis, i.e. the use of enzymes as catalysts in chemical reactions.

The NESOC project integrates the most advanced biocatalysis techniques with innovative synthesis strategies to address some of the most complex challenges in organic chemistry, including environmental sustainability, processing safety, high efficiency and selectivity, and industrial-scale applicability.

The goal of NESOC is to develop novel biocatalytic reactions to synthesise and functionalise organic boron compounds, a key bonding element in organic molecules. The project aims to combine the selectivity and eco-compatibility of biocatalysis with enzymatic activities that do not exist in nature to synthesise organic boron compounds. This approach will overcome current limitations in boron chemistry, introducing new forms of reactivity and reducing the environmental impact of using non-renewable resources. The results of NESOC will have significant effects in several areas, from pharmaceutical chemistry to advanced materials, from enzyme biochemistry to industrial processes.

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