Asymmetric Enzymatic Synthesis of Allylic Amines: A Sigmatropic Rearrangement Strategy

Metalla-Claisen Rearrangement in Gold-Catalyzed [4+2] Reaction: A New Elementary Reaction Suggested for Future Reaction Design

We report here computational evidence for a metalla-Claisen rearrangement (MCR) in the case of gold-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of yne-dienes. The [4+2] reaction starts from exo cyclopropanation, followed by MCR and reductive elimination. The cyclopropane moiety formed in the first step is crucial for a low barrier of the MCR step. In addition, the importance of an appropriate combination of the tether group and the terminal substituent on alkyne in the yne-diene substrates was studied. The mechanism of rhodium-catalyzed [4+2] reaction of yne-dienes was also investigated to see whether an MCR mechanism is involved or not. The findings and new understanding hereby reported represent an important advance in the catalysis field.

Designing Artificial Metalloenzymes by Tuning of the Environment beyond the Primary Coordination Sphere

Metalloenzymes catalyze a variety of reactions using a limited number of natural amino acids and metallocofactors. Therefore, the environment beyond the primary coordination sphere must play an important role in both conferring and tuning their phenomenal catalytic properties, enabling active sites with otherwise similar primary coordination environments to perform a diverse array of biological functions. However, since the interactions beyond the primary coordination sphere are numerous and weak, it has been difficult to pinpoint structural features responsible for the tuning of activities of native enzymes. Designing artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) offers an excellent basis to elucidate the roles of these interactions and to further develop practical biological catalysts. In this review, we highlight how the secondary coordination spheres of ArMs influence metal binding and catalysis, with particular focus on the use of native protein scaffolds as templates for the design of ArMs by either rational design aided by computational modeling, directed evolution, or a combination of both approaches. In describing successes in designing heme, nonheme Fe, and Cu metalloenzymes, heteronuclear metalloenzymes containing heme, and those ArMs containing other metal centers (including those with non-native metal ions and metallocofactors), we have summarized insights gained on how careful controls of the interactions in the secondary coordination sphere, including hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions, allow the generation and tuning of these respective systems to approach, rival, and, in a few cases, exceed those of native enzymes. We have also provided an outlook on the remaining challenges in the field and future directions that will allow for a deeper understanding of the secondary coordination sphere a deeper understanding of the secondary coordintion sphere to be gained, and in turn to guide the design of a broader and more efficient variety of ArMs.

Interweaving Visible-Light and Iron Catalysis for Nitrene Formation and Transformation with Dioxazolones

Herein, visible-light-driven iron-catalyzed nitrene transfer reactions with dioxazolones for intermolecular C(sp³ )-N, N=S, and N=P bond formation are described. These reactions occur with exogenous-ligand-free process and feature satisfactory to excellent yields (up to 99 %), an ample substrate scope (109 examples) under mild reaction conditions. In contrast to intramolecular C-H amidations strategies, an intermolecular regioselective C-H amidation via visible-light-induced nitrene transfer reactions is devised. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds via a radical pathway. Computational studies show that the decarboxylation of dioxazolone depends on the conversion of ground sextet state dioxazolone-bounding iron species to quartet spin state via visible-light irradiation.

Silver-Catalyzed Enantioselective Sulfimidation Mediated by Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

An enantioselective sulfimidation of 3-thiosubstituted 2-quinolones and 2-pyridones was achieved with a stoichiometric nitrene source (PhI=NNs) and a silver-based catalyst system. Key to the success of the reaction is the use of a chiral phenanthroline ligand with a hydrogen bonding site. The enantioselectivity does not depend on the size of the two substituents at the sulfur atom but only on the binding properties of the heterocyclic lactams. A total of 21 chiral sulfimides were obtained in high yields (44-99 %) and with significant enantiomeric excess (70-99 % ee). The sulfimidation proceeds with high site-selectivity and can also be employed for the kinetic resolution of chiral sulfoxides. Mechanistic evidence suggests the intermediacy of a heteroleptic silver complex, in which the silver atom is bound to one molecule of the chiral ligand and one molecule of an achiral 1,10-phenanthroline. Support for the suggested reaction course was obtained by ESI mass spectrometry, DFT calculations, and a Hammett analysis.

Biocatalytic Reduction Reactions from a Chemist's Perspective

Reductions play a key role in organic synthesis, producing chiral products with new functionalities. Enzymes can catalyse such reactions with exquisite stereo-, regio- and chemoselectivity, leading the way to alternative shorter classical synthetic routes towards not only high-added-value compounds but also bulk chemicals. In this review we describe the synthetic state-of-the-art and potential of enzymes that catalyse reductions, ranging from carbonyl, enone and aromatic reductions to reductive aminations.

Biocatalytic Oxidation Reactions: A Chemist's Perspective

Oxidation chemistry using enzymes is approaching maturity and practical applicability in organic synthesis. Oxidoreductases (enzymes catalysing redox reactions) enable chemists to perform highly selective and efficient transformations ranging from simple alcohol oxidations to stereoselective halogenations of non-activated C-H bonds. For many of these reactions, no "classical" chemical counterpart is known. Hence oxidoreductases open up shorter synthesis routes based on a more direct access to the target products. The generally very mild reaction conditions may also reduce the environmental impact of biocatalytic reactions compared to classical counterparts. In this Review, we critically summarise the most important recent developments in the field of biocatalytic oxidation chemistry and identify the most pressing bottlenecks as well as promising solutions.

Orthogonal Expression of an Artificial Metalloenzyme for Abiotic Catalysis

A cytochrome P450 was engineered to selectively incorporate Ir(Me)-deuteroporphyrin IX (Ir(Me)-DPIX), in lieu of heme, in bacterial cells. Cofactor selectivity was altered by introducing mutations within the heme-binding pocket to discriminate the deuteroporphyrin macrocycle, in combination with mutations to the P450 axial cysteine to accommodate a pendant methyl group on the Ir(Me) center. This artificial metalloenzyme was investigated for activity in non-native metallocarbenoid-mediated olefin cyclopropanation reactions and showed enhanced activity for aliphatic and electron-deficient olefins when compared to the native heme enzyme. This work provides a general strategy to augment the chemical functionality of heme enzymes in cells with application towards abiotic catalysis.

Immobilization of a Bacterial Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase System on a Solid Support

Bacterial cytochrome P450s (P450s), which catalyze regio- and stereoselective oxidations of hydrocarbons with high turnover rates, are attractive biocatalysts for fine chemical production. Enzyme immobilization is needed for cost-effective industrial manufacturing. However, immobilization of P450s is difficult because electron-transfer proteins are involved in catalysis and anchoring these can prevent them from functioning as shuttle molecules for carrying electrons. We studied a heterotrimeric protein-mediated co-immobilization of a bacterial P450, and its electron-transfer protein and reductase. Fusion with subunits of a heterotrimeric Sulfolobus solfataricus proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) enabled immobilization of the three proteins on a solid support. The co-immobilized enzymes catalyzed monooxygenation because the electron-transfer protein fused to PCNA via a single peptide linker retained its electron-transport function.

Biocatalytic Synthesis of Allylic and Allenyl Sulfides through a Myoglobin-Catalyzed Doyle-Kirmse Reaction

The first example of a biocatalytic [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction involving allylic sulfides and diazo reagents (Doyle-Kirmse reaction) is reported. Engineered variants of sperm whale myoglobin catalyze this synthetically valuable C-C bond-forming transformation with high efficiency and product conversions across a variety of sulfide substrates (e.g., aryl-, benzyl-, and alkyl-substituted allylic sulfides) and α-diazo esters. Moreover, the scope of this myoglobin-mediated transformation could be extended to the conversion of propargylic sulfides to give substituted allenes. Active-site mutations proved effective in enhancing the catalytic efficiency of the hemoprotein in these reactions as well as modulating the enantioselectivity, resulting in the identification of the myoglobin variant Mb(L29S,H64V,V68F), which is capable of mediating asymmetric Doyle-Kirmse reactions with an enantiomeric excess up to 71 %. This work extends the toolbox of currently available biocatalytic strategies for the asymmetric formation of carbon-carbon bonds.