Our latest research article, “Enantiopurity-Dependent Peptide Coacervates and Asymmetric Organocatalysis“, has just been published in Small.
In this study, we explore how a simple tripeptide can undergo Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) to form coacervate droplets that function as efficient, enantioselective organocatalysts.
This work perfectly complements our previous research published in EurJOC. While we previously demonstrated that ordered supramolecular structures (fibrils) could accelerate reactions, here we show that disordered, liquid-like coacervates can be equally powerful tools for driving chemical transformations.
This finding adds a new dimension to the field, connecting with seminal studies on coacervate-driven catalysis, such as the work on interfacial activation in aqueous droplets by Valérie Desvergnes . It highlights how different states of soft matter —whether ordered or disordered—c an be tuned to modulate reactivity.
This project was a fantastic collaborative effort, masterfully led by Claudio Iacobucci whose expertise was fundamental to our success, and a crucial computational study by Nico Di Fonte and Isabella Daidone
I also want to congratulate the entire team, with a special mention to my PhD candidates Martina Porco and Alessio Carioscia for their outstanding work and dedication!
