Biocatalysts, reduction

In this chapter and in Chapters 10-12, we will review and validate some methods for asymmetric (transfer) hydrogenation of carbon-oxygen and carbon-carbon double bonds catalysed by non-metallic systems, homogeneous transition metal catalysts and biocatalysts. Reduction of carbon-nitrogen double bond systems will be reported in another volume of this series. 

In this thiamine pyrophosphate-mediated process, ben2aldehyde (29), added to fermenting yeast, reacts with acetaldehyde (qv) (30), generated from glucose by the biocatalyst, to yield (R)-l-phen5l-l-hydroxy-2-propanone (31). The en2ymatically induced chiral center of (31) helps in the asymmetric reductive (chemical) condensation with methylamine to yield (lR,23)-ephedrine [299-42-3] (32). Substituted ben2aldehyde derivatives react in the same manner (80). 

The abihty of iron to exist in two stable oxidation states, ie, the ferrous, Fe ", and ferric, Fe ", states in aqueous solutions, is important to the role of iron as a biocatalyst (79) (see Iron compounds). Although the cytochromes of the electron-transport chain contain porphyrins like hemoglobin and myoglobin, the iron ions therein are involved in oxidation—reduction reactions (78). Catalase is a tetramer containing four atoms of iron peroxidase is a monomer having one atom of iron. The iron in these enzymes also undergoes oxidation and reduction (80). 

Biocatalysts have received great attention in these last few years. Due to their capacity to perform asymmetric transformations under mild conditions [78], they have been useful tools for synthesizing optically active organic molecules. They promote a variety of chemical transformations, including the syntheses of esters and amides and oxidations, reductions, eliminations and carbon carbon forming. Little is known about biocatalyst-promoted Diels Alder reactions. 

Figure 8.7 Reduction of ketone with photosynthetic biocatalyst using lightenergy [6b,c].

Since stereoselectivities of biocatalytic reductions are not always satisfactory, modification of biocatalysis are necessary for practical use. This section explains how to find, prepare, and modify the suitable biocatalysts, how to recycle the coenzyme, and how to improve productivity and enantioselectivity of the reactions. 

A representative set of a- and -keto esters was also tested as substrates (total 11) for each purified fusion protein (Figure 8.13b,c) [9bj. The stereoselectivities of -keto ester reductions depended both on the identity of the enzyme and the substrate stmcture, and some reductases yielded both l- and o-alcohols with high stereoselectivities. While a-keto esters were generally reduced with lower enantioselec-tivities, it was possible to identify pairs of yeast reductases that delivered both alcohol antipodes in optically pure form. These results demonstrate the power of genomic fusion protein libraries to identify appropriate biocatalysts rapidly and expedite process development. 

A dried cell mass is often used as a biocatalyst for a reduction since it can be stored for a long time and used whenever needed, without cultivation. One convenient method of drying the cell mass is acetone dehydration. For example, dried cells of G. 

Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic ketones proceeds through asymmetric reduction when the substrate does racemize and the product does not under the applied experimental conditions. Dynamic kinetic resolution of a-alkyl P-keto ester has been performed through enzymatic reduction. One isomer, out of the four possible products for the unselective reduction (Figure 8.38), can be selectively synthesized using biocatalyst, and by changing the biocatalyst or conditions, all of the isomers can be selectively synthesized [29]. 

Dynamic kinetic resolution of a-alkyl-P-keto ester was conducted successfully using biocatalysts. For example, baker s yeast gave selectively syn(2R, 3S)-product [29a] and the selectivity was enhanced by using selective inhibitor [29b] or heat treatment of the yeast [29c]. Organic solvent was used for stereochemical control of G. candidum [29d]. Plant cell cultures were used for reduction of 2-methyl-3-oxobu-tanoate and afforded antialcohol with Marchantia [29e,f] and syn-isomer with Glycine max [29f]. 

White-rot fungus has been used as a biocatalyst for reduction and alkylation. The reaction of aromatic -keto nitriles with the white-rot fungus Curvularia lunata CECT 2130 in the presence of alcohols afforded alkylation-reduction reaction [291]. Alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, butanol, and isobutanol could be used (Figure 8.39d). 

Other biocatalysts were also used to perform the dynamic kinetic resolution through reduction. For example, Thermoanaerobium brockii reduced the aldehyde with a moderate enantioselectivity [30b,c], and Candida humicola was found, as a result of screening from 107 microorganisms, to give the (Jl)-alcohol with 98.2% ee when ester group was methyl [30dj. 

Applications of peroxide formation are underrepresented in chiral synthetic chemistry, most likely owing to the limited stability of such intermediates. Lipoxygenases, as prototype biocatalysts for such reactions, display rather limited substrate specificity. However, interesting functionalizations at allylic positions of unsaturated fatty acids can be realized in high regio- and stereoselectivity, when the enzymatic oxidation is coupled to a chemical or enzymatic reduction process. While early work focused on derivatives of arachidonic acid chemical modifications to the carboxylate moiety are possible, provided that a sufficiently hydrophilic functionality remained. By means of this strategy, chiral diendiols are accessible after hydroperoxide reduction (Scheme 9.12) [103,104]. 

Indeed, recent research on the use of a cyanobacterium as a biocatalyst has opened up this area asymmetric reduction of ketones by a cyanobacteria, Syne-chococcus elongates PCC 7942, with the aid of light energy proceeded smoothly... 

Lloyd JR, J Ridley, T Khizniak, NN Lyalikova, LE Macaskie (1999) Reduction of technetium by Desulfo-vibrio desulfuricans biocatalyst characterization and use in a flowthrough bioreactor. Appl Environ Microbiol 65 2691-2696. 

Catalytic transformations can be divided on the basis of the catalyst-type - homogeneous, heterogeneous or enzymatic - or the type of conversion. We have opted for a compromise a division based partly on type of conversion (reduction, oxidation and C-C bond formation, and partly on catalyst type (solid acids and bases, and biocatalysts). Finally, enantioselective catalysis is a recurring theme in fine chemicals manufacture, e.g. in the production of pharmaceutical intermediates, and a separate section is devoted to this topic. 

Lactobacillus kefir was also employed as the whole-cell biocatalyst for the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate to ethyl (.S )-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate, the chiral... 

Figure 7.9 Reduction of a-chloro-3 -chloroacetophenone catalyzed by a whole-cell biocatalyst and the corresponding purified enzyme...

The reduction of several ketones, which were transformed by the wild-type lyophilized cells of Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 with moderate stereoselectivity, was reinvestigated employing lyophilized cells of Escherichia coli containing the overexpressed alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH- A ) from Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541. The recombinant whole-cell biocatalyst significantly increased the activity and enantioselectivity [41]. For example, the enantiomeric excess of (R)-2-chloro-l-phenylethanol increased from 43 to >99%. This study clearly demonstrated the advantages of the recombinant whole cell biocatalysts over the wild-type whole cells. 

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