Chemo- and Enantioselective Photoenzymatic Ketone Reductions Using a Promiscuous Flavin-dependent Nitroreductase

This is exemplified by the presence of chiral alcohols as structural elements in numerous pharmaceutically active compounds, such as  Isoprenaline(β-adrenoreceptor agonist), Duloxetine (anti-depressant), Saxagliptin (anti-diabetic), and the blockbuster drug atrovastatin (Lipitor™, cholesterol-lowering agent). Conventional synthetic routes towards these pharmacophores and other relevant active pharmaceuticals involve the use of metal ligands, multiple steps, low-to-moderate enantioselectivity, and environmentally harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report an alternative and highly efficient synchronized photo-enzymatic system towards the synthesis of these relevant building blocks. The reaction runs in water and is catalyzed by a flavoenzyme, a photo-catalyst, an enzymatic regeneration system, and an in-house designed photo-reactor.

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