Abstract
This talk tells my outlook on the development of electric-field-mediated-chemistry/biochemistry and predicts a vision of its future state.1 The talk discusses applications of oriented electric-fields (OEFs) to chemical and biochemical reactions e.g., Diels Alder reactions, and reactions of the enzyme Cytochrome P450. As shall be demonstrated, the orientation of the OEF controls reaction-rate (acceleration/inhibition), chemo-selectivity, enantio-selectivity, and solvent effect. This will be followed by showing relevant experimental verifications of the impact of OEF on structure and reactivity.
Subsequently, the talk will outline other ways of generating OEFs, e.g. by use of; pH-switchable charges, ionic additives, water droplets, and so on. I shall further describe the application of static vs. oscillating OEFs to decompose peptide plaques (e.g., Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer’s disease).
The second part of the talk consists of conceptual principles for understanding and predicting OEF effects, e.g., the “reaction-axis rule”, the capability of OEFs to act as tweezers that orient reactants and accelerate their reaction, etc. Finally, I shall discuss the prospects of up-scaling applications of various OEF-sources to Molar concentrations. The talk ends with the vision that, in the forthcoming years, OEF usage will change chemical education, if not also the art of making new molecules.