Chemistry - A European Journal,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 17, 2025
Saturated
bioisosteres
of
ortho-substituted
benzenes
are
significant
interest
due
to
their
enhanced
pharmacokinetic
properties,
such
as
improved
metabolic
stability
and
reduced
toxicity,
making
them
valuable
in
drug
design
development.
However,
efficient
synthesis
remains
a
challenge
organic
chemistry.
Herein,
we
report
the
biocatalytic
saturated
using
engineered
artificial
photoenzymes.
The
photoenzyme,
incorporating
genetically
encoded
unnatural
amino
acids
with
benzophenone
photosensitizer
residue,
facilitate
formation
chiral
moderate
enantiomeric
excess
via
energy
transfer
process.
Our
results
demonstrate
versatility
photoenzymes
mediating
new-to-nature
reactions
that
difficult
achieve
conventional
chemical
or
enzymatic
methods.
ACS Catalysis,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(11), P. 8270 - 8293
Published: May 13, 2024
As
one
of
the
most
important
key
intermediates,
NHC-bound
acylazolium-based
ionic
transformations
have
been
intensively
explored
in
past
two
decades.
With
expeditious
development
NHC-catalyzed
radical
recent
years,
acylazolium
chemistry
has
reached
another
level,
with
number
relevant
publications
increasing
significantly.
However,
a
summary
focused
on
acylations
NHC-derived
acyl
azoliums
classified
according
to
mechanistic
difference
not
reported.
Such
detailed
classification
and
deep
analysis
provide
opportunities
for
better
understanding
history
trend
this
field.
In
review,
reactions
N-heterocyclic
carbene
(NHC)-derived
are
systematically
introduced.
The
achievements
challenges
within
area
also
summarized
discussed
at
end.
Accounts of Chemical Research,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
57(9), P. 1446 - 1457
Published: April 11, 2024
ConspectusEnzymes
are
desired
catalysts
for
chemical
synthesis,
because
they
can
be
engineered
to
provide
unparalleled
levels
of
efficiency
and
selectivity.
Yet,
despite
the
astonishing
array
reactions
catalyzed
by
natural
enzymes,
many
reactivity
patterns
found
in
small
molecule
have
no
counterpart
living
world.
With
a
detailed
understanding
mechanisms
utilized
catalysts,
we
identify
existing
enzymes
with
potential
catalyze
that
currently
unknown
nature.
Over
past
eight
years,
our
group
has
demonstrated
flavin-dependent
"ene"-reductases
(EREDs)
various
radical-mediated
selectivity,
solving
long-standing
challenges
asymmetric
synthesis.This
Account
presents
development
EREDs
as
general
radical
reactions.
While
developed
multiple
generating
radicals
within
protein
active
sites,
this
account
will
focus
on
examples
where
flavin
mononucleotide
hydroquinone
(FMNhq)
serves
an
electron
transfer
initiator.
initial
mechanistic
hypotheses
were
rooted
electron-transfer-based
initiation
commonly
used
synthetic
organic
chemists,
ultimately
uncovered
emergent
unique
site.
We
begin
covering
intramolecular
discussing
how
activates
substrate
reduction
altering
redox-potential
alkyl
halides
templating
charge
complex
between
flavin-cofactor.
Protein
engineering
been
modify
fundamental
photophysics
these
reactions,
highlighting
opportunity
tune
systems
further
using
directed
evolution.
This
section
highlights
range
coupling
partners
termination
available
reactions.The
next
intermolecular
role
enzyme-templated
ternary
complexes
among
cofactor,
halide,
partner
gating
ensure
it
only
occurs
when
both
substrates
bound
highlight
applications
activation
mode,
including
olefin
hydroalkylation,
carbohydroxylation,
arene
functionalization,
nitronate
alkylation.
also
discusses
favor
steps
elusive
solution
reductive
nitroalkanes.
aware
several
recent
EREDs-catalyzed
photoenzymatic
transformations
from
other
groups.
discuss
results
papers
context
nuances
substrates.These
biocatalytic
often
complement
state-of-the-art
small-molecule-catalyzed
making
valuable
addition
chemist's
toolbox.
Moreover,
underlying
principles
studied
potentially
operative
cofactor-dependent
proteins,
opening
door
different
types
enzyme-catalyzed
anticipate
serve
guide
inspire
broad
interest
repurposing
access
new
transformations.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: Jan. 2, 2025
Acylation
stands
as
a
fundamental
process
in
both
biological
pathways
and
synthetic
chemical
reactions,
with
acylated
saccharides
their
derivatives
holding
diverse
applications
ranging
from
bioactive
agents
to
building
blocks.
A
longstanding
objective
organic
synthesis
has
been
the
site-selective
acylation
of
without
extensive
pre-protection
alcohol
units.
In
this
study,
we
demonstrate
that
by
simply
altering
chirality
N-heterocyclic
carbene
(NHC)
catalysts,
site-selectivity
saccharide
reactions
can
be
effectively
modulated.
Our
investigation
reveals
intriguing
selectivity
shift
stems
combination
factors,
including
match/mismatch
inter-
/
intramolecular
hydrogen
bonding
between
NHC
catalyst
substrates.
These
findings
provide
valuable
insights
into
design
reaction
engineering,
highlighting
potential
glycoside
analysis,
such
fluorescent
labelling,
α/β
identification,
orthogonal
selective
late-stage
modifications.
The
units
synthesis.
Here,
authors
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 23, 2025
Visible
light-driven
pyridoxal
radical
biocatalysis
has
emerged
as
a
new
strategy
for
the
stereoselective
synthesis
of
valuable
noncanonical
amino
acids
in
protecting-group-free
fashion.
In
our
previously
developed
dehydroxylative
C–C
coupling
using
engineered
PLP-dependent
tryptophan
synthases,
an
enzyme-controlled
unusual
α-stereochemistry
reversal
and
pH-controlled
enantiopreference
were
observed.
Herein,
through
high-throughput
photobiocatalysis,
we
evolved
set
stereochemically
complementary
PLP
enzymes,
allowing
both
l-
d-amino
with
enhanced
enantiocontrol
across
broad
pH
window.
These
newly
acid
synthases
permitted
use
range
organoboron
substrates,
including
boronates,
trifluoroborates,
boronic
acids,
excellent
efficiency.
Mechanistic
studies
unveiled
unexpected
racemase
activity
earlier
enzyme
variants.
This
promiscuous
was
abolished
shedding
light
on
origin
enantiocontrol.
Further
mechanistic
investigations
suggest
switch
proton
donor
to
account
stereoinvertive
formation
highlighting
stereoinversion
mechanism
that
is
rare
conventional
two-electron
enzymology.
Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
385(6707), P. 416 - 421
Published: July 25, 2024
Enzymes
capable
of
assimilating
fluorinated
feedstocks
are
scarce.
This
situation
poses
a
challenge
for
the
biosynthesis
compounds
used
in
pharmaceuticals,
agrochemicals,
and
materials.
We
developed
photoenzymatic
hydrofluoroalkylation
that
integrates
motifs
into
olefins.
The
photoinduced
promiscuity
flavin-dependent
ene-reductases
enables
generation
carbon-centered
radicals
from
iodinated
fluoroalkanes,
which
directed
by
photoenzyme
to
engage
enantioselectively
with
approach
facilitates
stereocontrol
through
interaction
between
singular
unit
enzyme,
securing
high
enantioselectivity
at
β,
γ,
or
δ
positions
groups
enzymatic
hydrogen
atom
transfer-a
process
is
notably
challenging
conventional
chemocatalysis.
work
advances
strategies
integrating
chemical
opens
avenues
asymmetric
synthesis
compounds.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
146(32), P. 22829 - 22839
Published: Aug. 1, 2024
The
molecular
editing
of
ketones
represents
an
appealing
strategy
due
to
its
ability
maximize
the
structural
diversity
ketone
compounds
in
a
straightforward
manner.
However,
developing
efficient
methods
for
arbitrary
modification
ketonic
molecules,
particularly
those
integrated
within
complex
skeletons,
remains
significant
challenge.
Herein,
we
present
unique
recasting
that
involves
radical
acylation
ACS Catalysis,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(9), P. 6710 - 6716
Published: April 16, 2024
The
photoinduced
unnatural
reactions
catalyzed
by
flavin-dependent
enzymes
usually
proceed
through
reduction
pathways,
which
required
the
use
of
electron-sacrificial
reagents.
Herein,
we
developed
a
photoenzymatic
redox-neutral
radical
hydrosulfonylation
induced
oxidated
flavin
(FMN)
with
sulfinates
or
sulfonyl
hydrazines
as
precursors.
reaction
involved
excited
FMN
acquiring
an
electron
from
substrate,
and
resulting
sulfuryl
was
captured
alkene.
It
is
then
stereoselectively
quenched
semiquinone
(FMNsq)
hydrogen
atom
transfer.
This
study
circumvents
need
for
NADPH
recycling
systems
expands
potential
patterns
in
photobiocatalysis.
ACS Catalysis,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(12), P. 9144 - 9150
Published: May 30, 2024
Despite
substantial
progress
made
toward
elucidating
the
natural
radical
enzymology
with
thiamine
pyrophosphate
(TPP)-dependent
pyruvate:ferredoxin
oxidoreductases
(PFORs)
and
pyruvate
oxidases
(POXs),
repurposing
naturally
occurring
two-electron
TPP-dependent
enzymes
to
catalyze
single-electron
transformations
significant
synthetic
value
remains
a
daunting
task.
Enabled
by
synergistic
use
of
visible-light
photocatalyst
fluorescein
set
engineered
derived
from
benzoylformate
decarboxylase
(BFD)
benzaldehyde
lyase
(BAL),
we
developed
an
asymmetric
photobiocatalytic
decarboxylative
alkylation
benzaldehydes
α-keto
acids
produce
highly
enantioenriched
α-branched
ketones.
Mechanistically,
propose
that
this
dual
catalytic
involves
oxidation
enzyme-bound
Breslow
intermediate
subsequent
interception
photoredox-generated
transient
alkyl
radical.
In
conjunction
visible
light
photoredox
catalysis,
biocatalysis
represents
emerging
platform
discover
optimize
are
unknown
biological
systems
not
amenable
small-molecule
catalysis.
JACS Au,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
4(6), P. 2068 - 2080
Published: May 31, 2024
Biocatalysis
is
currently
undergoing
a
profound
transformation.
The
field
moves
from
relying
on
nature's
chemical
logic
to
discipline
that
exploits
generic
activation
modes,
allowing
for
novel
biocatalytic
reactions
and,
in
many
instances,
entirely
new
chemistry.
Generic
modes
enable
wide
range
of
reaction
types
and
played
pivotal
role
advancing
the
fields
organo-
photocatalysis.
This
perspective
aims
summarize
principal
harnessed
enzymes
develop
biocatalysts.
Although
extensively
researched
past,
highlighted
when
applied
within
enzyme
active
sites,
facilitate
transformations
have
largely
eluded
efficient
selective
catalysis.
advance
attributed
multiple
tunable
interactions
substrate
binding
pocket
precisely
control
competing
pathways
transition
states.
We
will
highlight
cases
synthetic
methodologies
achieved
by
engineered
provide
insights
into
potential
future
developments
this
rapidly
evolving
field.