Cyclic esters and amides (lactones and lactams) are important active ingredients and polymer building blocks. In recent years, numerous biocatalytic methods for their preparation have been developed including enzymatic and chemoenzymatic Baeyer–Villiger oxidations, oxidative lactonisation of diols, and reductive lactonisation and lactamisation of ketoesters. The current state of the art of these methods is reviewed.

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The photocatalytic oxidation of NADH using a flavin photocatalyst and a simple blue LED light source is reported. This in situ NAD+ regeneration system can be used to promote biocatalytic, enantioselective oxidation reactions. Compared to the traditional use of white light bulbs this method enables very significant reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emission.@en