Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 2015-02-21

Synthesis of enantiopure glycidol derivatives via a one-pot two-step enzymatic cascade.

Yu-Chang Liu, Yan Liu, Zhong-Liu Wu

Index: Org. Biomol. Chem. 13(7) , 2146-52, (2015)

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Abstract

Styrene monooxygenase (SMO) can catalyze the kinetic resolution of secondary allylic alcohols to provide enantiopure glycidol derivatives. To overcome the low theoretical yield of kinetic resolution, we designed a one-pot two-step enzymatic cascade using prochiral α,β-unsaturated ketones as the substrates. An S-specific ketoreductase ChKRED03 was screened for the efficient bioreduction of the substrates to provide (S)-allylic alcohols, which underwent SMO-catalyzed epoxidation to achieve glycidol derivatives with contiguous stereogenic centers. Excellent enantioselectivity (ee > 99%) and diastereoselectivity (de > 99%) were achieved for the majority of the substrates, and product yields reached up to >99%.