Ketoreductase-Catalyzed Access to Axially Chiral 2,6-Disubstituted Spiro[3.3]heptane Derivatives

Imine Reductase-Catalyzed Remote Stereocontrol for Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Cyclohexylidene-Based Axially Chiral Amines

Cyclohexylidene-based amines exhibit unique axial chirality arising from the restricted double bond and have shown great potential in medicinal chemistry. However, their asymmetric synthesis remains challenging due to the long distance between the chirally relevant groups. Herein, we report a highly efficient and asymmetric synthesis of cyclohexylidene-based axially chiral amines from 4-substituted cyclohexanones and primary amines catalyzed by imine reductases (IREDs). Enantiodivergent IREDs were identified to provide convenient access to both enantiomers of chiral products with high yields and enantioselectivity (up to 99% yield, 99:1 or 1:99 enantiomeric ratio). A gram-scale synthesis of cyclohexylidene-based amines was also achieved. Moreover, protein X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling studies were conducted to provide structural insight into the remote stereocontrol of IREDs in generating cyclohexylidene-based axial chirality.

Spiro[3.3]heptane as a Saturated Benzene Bioisostere

The spiro[3.3]heptane core, with the non-coplanar exit vectors, was shown to be a saturated benzene bioisostere. This scaffold was incorporated into the anticancer drug sonidegib (instead of the meta-benzene), the anticancer drug vorinostat (instead of the phenyl ring), and the anesthetic drug benzocaine (instead of the para-benzene). The patent-free saturated analogs obtained showed a high potency in the corresponding biological assays.