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  • Biocatalytic Asymmetric Mic...
    Guo, Chao; Saifuddin, Mohammad; Saravanan, Thangavelu; Sharifi, Masih; Poelarends, Gerrit J

    ACS catalysis, 05/2019, Letnik: 9, Številka: 5
    Journal Article

    The enzyme 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) exploits an N-terminal proline as main catalytic residue to facilitate several promiscuous C–C bond-forming reactions via enzyme-bound enamine intermediates. Here we show that the active site of this enzyme can give rise to further synthetically useful catalytic promiscuity. Specifically, the F50A mutant of 4-OT was found to efficiently promote asymmetric Michael additions of nitromethane to various α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to give γ-nitroaldehydes, important precursors to biologically active γ-aminobutyric acids. High conversions, high enantiocontrol, and good isolated product yields were achieved. The reactions likely proceed via iminium ion intermediates formed between the catalytic Pro-1 residue and the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. In addition, a cascade of three 4-OT­(F50A)-catalyzed reactions followed by an enzymatic oxidation step enables assembly of γ-nitrocarboxylic acids from three simple building blocks in one pot. Our results bridge organo- and biocatalysis, and they emphasize the potential of enzyme promiscuity for the preparation of important chiral synthons.