The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst
of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least
one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophillic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10
groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one
linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic
molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups
preferably are selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2,
—CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3,
—CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures
thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents
or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface
by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface
charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto.
Simultaneously, the linker binds the catalytic species to the surface of the support
in a manner which permits the catalytic species to be freely available for catalytic
activity. Methods of catalyzing a reaction using the supported catalyst system
of the invention are also disclosed.