Enzyme catalyzed reaction asymmetric reduction

However, the most extensively investigated class of ERs is members of the OYE family of flavin oxidoreductases (EC 1.6.99.1). There is detailed information known about OYEs, such as their structure, reaction mechanism, substrate scope, kinetic properties, and biocatalytic approaches. Therefore, this chapter will focus on this latter class of enzymes. They have been intensively studied over the past decade in view of their applicability in preparative-scale biotransformations [1, 8-12]. These FMN-containing enzymes catalyze the asymmetric reduction of a,p-unsaturated... 

Kometani et al. [71] reported that baker s yeast catalyzed the asymmetric reduction of acetol to (i )-1,2-propanediol with ethanol as the energy source. The enzyme involved in the reaction was an NADH-dependent reductase, and NADH required for the reduction was supplied by ethanol oxidizing enzyme(s) in the yeast. When washed cells of baker s yeast were incubated with 10 mg ml of acetol in an ethanol solution with aeration, (k)-1,2-propanediol was formed almost stoichiometrically with an optical purity of 98.2% e. e. 

Unless specified otherwise, all reductions included in this chapter gave good yields of >90% enantiomeric excess (ee) products. Not all products of enzyme-catalyzed reactions meet the minimum % ee levels normally required for asymmetric synthetic applications. However, protocols exist for improving ee s of imperfectly specific enzyme-mediated transformations. 

Chapters 2 through 6 introduced many asymmetric organic reactions catalyzed by small molecules, such as C-C bond formation, reduction, and oxidation reactions. Chapter 7 provided further examples of how asymmetric reactions are used in organic synthesis. This chapter starts with a general introduction to enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric organic reactions. 

The asymmetric reduction of prochiral functional groups is an extremely useful transformation in organic synthesis. There is an important difference between isolated enzyme-catalyzed reduction reactions and whole cell-catalyzed transformations in terms of the recycling of the essential nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [NAD(P)H] cofactor. For isolated enzyme-catalyzed reductions, a cofactor recycling system must be introduced to allow the addition of only a catalytic amount (5% mol) of NAD(P)H. For whole cell-catalyzed reductions, cofactor recycling is automatically achieved by the cell, and the addition of a cofactor to the reaction system is normally not required. 

A bioreduction system might be applied to many NAD(P)H-dependent enzyme reactions other than carbonyl reduction. Recently, two novel old yellow enzymes (OYEs) catalyzing the asymmetric hydrogenation of C=C bonds were found and applied to a bioreduction system for the production of double chiral compounds. 

The stereospecific addition of hydrogen to an azomethine bond is believed to be involved in enzyme-catalyzed transamination reactions. As we have seen, Hiskey and Northrop (1961) have studied similar chemical asymmetric reductions. 

Enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric syntheses involve two types of reactions (1) the asymmetric reduction of a prochiral center and (2) the resolution of a racemic material by selective reaction of one enantiomer. Both types arc demonstrated in the syntheses of chiral insect phermones reviewed by Sonnet (1988). Enzymes that have broad substrate specificity and still retain other selectivity features can be versatile and powerful catalysts. In addition, enzyme catalysis is applicable not only in aqueous media but also in nonaqueous solvents, including supercritical fluids (20-22), In all cases, however, enzymes require water to function as catalysts. A small amount of water, corresponding to a monolayer on the enzyme molecule, is usually sufficient (20),... 

Numerous studies have demonstrated the solvent influence on enzyme enan-tioselectivity, and sometimes the enantiopreference may even be reversed by medium engineering. For instance, the enantioselectivity of asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones catalyzed by T. ethanolicus ADH can be controlled by changing the reaction medium containing either organic solvents or ionic liquids [93]. Reversal of the enantioselectivity was reported for S. cerevisiae-catalyzed reduction of hydrophobic phenyl w-propyl ketone by means of the... 

Recently, a cascade process for the simultaneous preparation of two enantiopure secondary alcohols by the same ADH was investigated [12]. In this work, a kinetic oxidative resolution of different secondary alcohols was coupled with the irreversible asymmetric reduction of selected prochiral activated ketones, that is, a-chloro ketones (Scheme 11.5a). The proposed strategy, named PIKAT (parallel intercoimected kinetic asymmetric transformations), represents an example of redox neutral (or self-sufficient) cascade, with no additional reducing or oxidizing reagents being required. Moreover, the reaction was catalyzed by a single enzyme in the presence of catalytic amounts of the cofactor. As the outcome of the cascade process is a mixture of two different enantioenriched products, substrates were properly selected on the basis of different physical properties. 

Asymmetric bioreduction of activated ketones catalyzed by members of the old yellow enzyme family showing the reductive (nicotinamide-dependent) and oxidative (alkene-dependent) half reactions [13]. 

Typical biochemical hydrogenation (reduction) reactions are catalyzed by prosthetic enzymes with nicotinamide or flavin nucleotide as coenzyme. Model asymmetric hydrogenation of these types, however, await future stu s. 

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