Peptide catalysis: Trends and opportunities

Abstract

The modularity of peptidic catalysts enables access to vast structural and functional diversity, facilitating the development of catalysts with outstanding activity and stereo-, site-, and chemoselectivity across a wide range of transformations. Established screening methodologies and privileged catalyst motifs have significantly advanced this field. Looking ahead, emerging approaches in biotechnology and high-throughput experimentation, artificial intelligence-driven design, and lab automation promise to expand the scope of currently accessible reactivity. We propose that these advances in peptide catalysis hold potential not only for synthetic chemistry but also for understanding fundamental questions about the origin of life and developing new functional materials.