 They have been able to develop biocompatible cyclopropanation and hydrogenation reactions to alter the reactivity of microbes by using non-enzymatic catalysts, iron(III) phthalocyanine and palladium, respectively.Another application of this approach used by Balskus is to rescue the activity of auxotrophic microbes with the use of transition metal-catalyzed reactions.This approach produces the essential nutrients that are needed for the growth and survival of the microbes by a non-native route.