Infrared-thermographic screening of the activity and enantioselectivity ofenzymes

The infrared radiation caused by the heat of reaction of an enantioselectiv e enzyme-catalyzed transformation can be detected by modern photovoltaic in frared (IR)-thermographic cameras equipped with focal-plane array detectors . Specifically, in the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation of racem ic 1-phenylethanol, the (R)- and (S)-substrates are allowed to react separa tely in the wells of microtiter plates, the (R)-alcohol showing hot spots i n the IR-thermographic images. Thus, highly enantioselective enzymes can be identified at kinetic resolution.