The use of biocatalysts, employed either as isolated enzymes or whole cells, offer a remarkable arsenal of highly selective transformations for modern preparative organic chemistry. During the past decade, this methodology has now generally been accepted as a complementary method to the already existing tools.

The setup of this first Textbook on biocatalysis is based on a professional referencebook published in 1992, and it provides a basis for undergraduate and graduate courses in biocatalysis, as well as a condensed introduction into this field for scientist and professionals.

After a basic introduction into the use of biocatalysts - principles of stereoselective transformations, kinetics, enzyme nomenclature and - handling, the different types of recreations are explained according to the "recreation principle".