Assessing the substrate selectivities and enantioselectivities of eight novel Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases toward alkyl-substituted cyclohexanones

Genes encoding eight Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases have recently been cloned from bacteria inhabiting a wastewater treatment plant. We have carried out a systematic investigation in which each newly cloned enzyme, as well as the cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter sp. NCIB 9871, was used to oxidize 15 different alkyl-substituted cyclohexanones. The panel of substrates included equal numbers of 2-, 3-, and 4-alkyl-substituted compounds to probe each enzyme's stereoselectivity toward a homologous series of synthetically important compounds. For all 4-alkyl-substituted cyclohexanones tested, enzymes were discovered that afforded each of the corresponding (S)-lactones in >/=98% ee. This was also true for the 2-alkyl-substituted cyclohexanones examined. The situation was more complex for 3-akyl-substituted cyclohexanones. In a few cases, single Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases possessed both high regio- and enantioselectivities toward these compounds. More commonly, however, they showed only one type of selectivity. Nonetheless, enzymes with such properties might be useful as parts of a two-step bioprocess where an initial kinetic resolution is followed by a regioselective oxidation on the isolated, optically pure ketone.     

New bioorganic reagents: evolved cyclohexanone monooxygenase--why is it more selective?

Four mutants of the cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) evolved as catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 4-hydroxycyclohexanone were investigated as catalysts for a variety of 4-substituted and 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexanones. Several excellent catalytic matches (mutant/substrate) were identified. The most important, however, is the finding that, in a number of cases, a mutant with a single exchange, Phe432Ser, was shown to be as robust and more selective as a catalyst than the wild-type CHMO. All biotransformations were performed on a laboratory scale, allowing full characterization of the products. The absolute configurations of two products were established. A model suggesting a possible role of the 432 serine residue in enantioselectivity control is proposed.     

Access to optically pure 4- and 5-substituted lactones: a case of chemical-biocatalytical cooperation

Optically pure or highly enantiomerically enriched 4- and 5-substituted lactones are rather difficult to obtain. Chemical or enzymatic syntheses alone are not particularly successful. A combination of chemical catalysis and biocatalysis, however, provides a convenient route to a variety of these useful chiral compounds. In this paper we describe the synthesis of several optically pure 4- and 5-substituted lactones obtained via whole cell-catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger oxidations of highly enantiomerically enriched 3-alkyl cyclic ketones. Such chiral ketones are readily accessed by recently developed copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reductions of the corresponding enones. A very high proximal regioselectivity and complete chirality transfer was obtained by employing biological Baeyer-Villiger oxidations, using recombinant E. coli strains that overexpress cyclopentanone monooxygenase (CPMO). A comparative study showed that CPMO gives superior results to those obtained with cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) catalyzed oxidations.     

External chiral ligand-mediated enantioselective Peterson reaction of alpha-trimethylsilanylacetate with substituted cyclohexanones

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric Peterson reaction of an alpha-trimethylsilanylacetate with 4-substituted and 3,5-disubstituted cyclohexanones was mediated by an external chiral tridentate ligand to give the corresponding olefins with an axial chirality in high yields and enantioselectivities of up to 85%.     

Baeyer-Villiger单加氧酶在有机合成中的应用

综述了Baeyer-Villiger单加氧酶在有机合成中的应用.较之传统的化学反应, 氧化酶催化剂反应有较好的选择性、可控性和经济性. 环己酮加氧酶是一种还原型辅酶I (NADPH)依赖型氧化酶, 是最早被报道能够催化Baeyer-Villiger氧化的酶. 这些重要反应产生了合成化学家很感兴趣的扩环产物. 环己酮加氧酶也是有用的生物催化剂, 由于辅酶再生的问题已被工程菌克服了, 所以能像全细胞催化剂那样使用. 对酮包括杂环酮进行Baeyer-Villiger氧化和动态动力学拆分, 放大这种反应作为合成路线是很有前途的.     

Bacterial dioxygenase- and monooxygenase-catalysed sulfoxidation of benzo[b]thiophenes

Asymmetric heteroatom oxidation of benzo[b]thiophenes to yield the corresponding sulfoxides was catalysed by toluene dioxygenase (TDO), naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) and styrene monooxygenase (SMO) enzymes present in P. putida mutant and E. coli recombinant whole cells. TDO-catalysed oxidation yielded the relatively unstable benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide; its dimerization, followed by dehydrogenation, resulted in the isolation of stable tetracyclic sulfoxides as minor products with cis-dihydrodiols being the dominant metabolites. SMO mainly catalysed the formation of enantioenriched benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide and 2-methyl benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxides which racemized at ambient temperature. The barriers to pyramidal sulfur inversion of 2- and 3-methyl benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide metabolites, obtained using TDO and NDO as biocatalysts, were found to be ca.: 25-27 kcal mol(-1). The absolute configurations of the benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxides were determined by ECD spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and stereochemical correlation. A site-directed mutant E. coli strain containing an engineered form of NDO, was found to change the regioselectivity toward preferential oxidation of the thiophene ring rather than the benzene ring.     

Increasing the enantioselectivity of cyclopentanone monooxygenase (CPMO): profile of new CPMO mutants

A series of cyclohexanones substituted at the 4-position with a selection of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups were used as substrates in the evaluation of six new cyclopentanone monooxygenase (CPMO) mutants. These mutants were obtained through evolutionary modifications in two specific regions of the CPMO’s putative active site. Several mutant enzymes with improved enantioselectivity were identified. Analysis of the results, in terms of a diamond model, illustrates how a family of cyclohexanone substrates may be used to explore putative active sites of Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) and to design productive mutations for specific substrates.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Oxime Ethers: Desymmetrization and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Substituted Cyclohexanones

Axially chiral cyclohexylidene oxime ethers exhibit unique chirality because of the restricted rotation of C=N. The first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of novel axially chiral cyclohexylidene oximes has been developed by catalytic desymmetrization of 4‐substituted cyclohexanones with O‐arylhydroxylamines and is catalyzed by a chiral BINOL‐derived strontium phosphate with excellent yields and good enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral BINOL‐derived phosphoric acid catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of α‐substituted cyclohexanones has been performed and yields versatile intermediates in high yields and enantioselectivities.     

What to sacrifice? Fusions of cofactor regenerating enzymes with Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases and alcohol dehydrogenases for self-sufficient redox biocatalysis

A collection of fusion biocatalysts has been generated that can be used for self-sufficient oxygenations or ketone reductions. These biocatalysts were created by fusing a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Thermocrispum municipale: TmCHMO) or an alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis: LbADH) with three different cofactor regeneration enzymes (formate dehydrogenase from Burkholderia stabilis: BsFDH; glucose dehydrogenase from Sulfolobus tokodaii: StGDH, and phosphite dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas stutzeri: PsPTDH). Their tolerance against various organic solvents, including a deep eutectic solvent, and their activity and selectivity with a variety of substrates have been studied. Excellent conversions and enantioselectivities were obtained, demonstrating that these engineered fusion enzymes can be used as biocatalysts for the synthesis of (chiral) valuable compounds.     

Nouveau mode de synthese des decalones—I

The action of sodium t-amyloxide on 3-(ω-bromobutyl) cyclohexanones (cycloalkylation) yields -decalones. When the 2-position of the initial cyclohexanone is unsubstituted, the reaction yields an equilibrium mixture of isomers (largely trans); but when the cyclohexanone bears a 2-alkyl group, the only product is the cis -decalone with an angular alkyl group. This cycloalkylation thus appears to be stereospecific.

The synthesis of the four -decalones (Va, Vb, V′a, V′b) is described.

The 3-(ω-bromobutyl) cyclohexanones were prepared by the action of the Grignard reagent from the tetrahydropyranyl ether of 4-chloro-1-butanol on the 1,3-cyclohexanedione enol ethers (I, I′), reduction of the resulting 3-(ω-hydroxybutyl) cyclohexenones (II, II′) to the cyclohexanones (III, III′), and finally treatment of the latter with phosphorus tribromide.

A variant is described in which the cycloalkylation is carried out on the 3-(ω-bromobutyl) cyclohex-2-enones (VI).     

Stereoselectivity in nucleophilic addition to unsaturated ligands bound to molybdenum : Allylic alkylation of cyclohexanone

The stereochemistry and regiochemistry of nucleophilic addition to olefinic, allylic, or diene moieties can be controlled in reactions of molybdenum complexes. The synthesis of a wide range of -allylic cyclohexanones is feasible using (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Mo(CO)(NO)(allyl) cations. The stereoselective preparation of (RS,SR)-2-(1-methyl-2-butenyl)cyclohexanone from the reaction of 1-pyrrolidino-1-cyclohexene with [CpMo(CO)(NO)(η³-1,3-dimethylallyl)]BF₄ illustrates the methodology.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Novel 1,2,3‐Triazole‐4‐Linked (2E,6E)‐2‐Benzylidene‐6‐(4‐nitrobenzylidene)cyclohexanones

This work describes the synthesis of novel 1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐linked (2E,6E)‐2‐benzylidene‐6‐(4‐nitrobenzylidene)cyclo‐hexanones starting from cyclohexanone. 1‐(Cyclohex‐1‐en‐1‐yl)piperidine, the enamine from cyclohexanone and piperidine, reacted with 4‐nitrobenzaldehyde to obtain 2‐(4‐nitrobenzylidene)cyclohexanone. Condensation of the latter compound with (prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)benzaldehyde derivatives under acidic conditions gave (4‐nitrobenzylidene)‐[(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)‐benzylidene]cyclohexanones. Finally, ‘click reaction’ of these derivatives and various organic azides led to the title compounds. All compounds were examined by MTT assay for cytotoxic activity in one human breast cancer cell line, MDA‐MB‐231.     

Reaction of Tetracyanoethylene with 2-Substituted Cyclohexanones

Reactions of 2-methylcyclohexanone and menthone with tetracyanoethylene gave 2-(1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethyl)cyclohexanones which underwent quantitative transformation in the solid phase into 3,4-cyanosubstituted 2-aminopyrans in 2-3 days at room temperature. 2-Methyl-2-(1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethyl)cyclohexanone reacted with hydroiodic acid to afford 8a-hydroxy-2-iodo-4a-methyl-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydroquinoline-3,4,4-tricarbonitrile. The reaction of 2,2'-methylenedi(cyclohexanone) with tetracyanoethylene resulted in formation of 7-imino-4,5-tetramethylene-2'-oxo-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-spiro-1'-cyclohexane-1,8,8-tricarbonitrile.     

Products from enzyme-catalyzed oxidations of norcarenes

Recent studies revealed that norcarane (bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane) is oxidized to 2-norcarene (bicyclo[4.1.0]-hept-2-ene) and 3-norcarene (bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene) by iron-containing enzymes and that secondary oxidation products from the norcarenes complicate mechanistic probe studies employing norcarane as the substrate (Newcomb, M.; Chandrasena, R. E. P.; Lansakara-P., D. S. P.; Kim, H.-Y.; Lippard, S. J.; Beauvais, L. G.; Murray, L. J.; Izzo, V.; Hollenberg, P. F.; Coon, M. J. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 1121-1127). In the present work, the product profiles from the oxidations of 2-norcarene and 3-norcarene by several enzymes were determined. Most of the products were identified by GC and GC-mass spectral comparison to authentic samples produced independently; in some cases, stereochemical assignments were made or confirmed by 2D NMR analysis of the products. The enzymes studied in this work were four cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP2B1, CYPDelta2E1, CYPDelta2E1 T303A, and CYPDelta2B4, and three diiron-containing enzymes, soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), toluene monooxygenase (ToMO) from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1, and phenol hydroxylase (PH) from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1. The oxidation products from the norcarenes identified in this work are 2-norcaranone, 3-norcaranone, syn- and anti-2-norcarene oxide, syn- and anti-3-norcarene oxide, syn- and anti-4-hydroxy-2-norcarene, syn- and anti-2-hydroxy-3-norcarene, 2-oxo-3-norcarene, 4-oxo-2-norcarene, and cyclohepta-3,5-dienol. Two additional, unidentified oxidation products were observed in low yields in the oxidations. In matched oxidations, 3-norcarene was a better substrate than 2-norcarene in terms of turnover by factors of 1.5-15 for the enzymes studied here. The oxidation products found in enzyme-catalyzed oxidations of the norcarenes are useful for understanding the complex product mixtures obtained in norcarane oxidations.     

Designing new Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases using restricted CASTing

This paper outlines the design and execution of the first mini-evolution of cyclopentanone monooxygenase (CPMO). The methodology described is a relatively inexpensive and rapid way to obtain mutant enzymes with the desired characteristics. Several successful mutants with enhanced enantioselectivities were identified. For example, mutant-catalyzed oxidation of 4-methoxycyclohexanone gave the corresponding lactone with 92% entantiometric excess (ee) compared to the 46% ee achieved with wild-type cyclohexanone monoxygenase (WT-CHMO). The original design of the mini-evolution and the following evaluation of mutants can provide valuable insights into the active site's construction and dynamics and can suggest other catalytically profitable mutations within the putative active site.     

Asymmetric reduction of nitroalkenes with baker's yeast

Various α,β-disubstituted and trisubstituted nitroalkenes were chemoselectively reduced with baker's yeast to the corresponding nitroalkanes. Stereoselectivities of the reduction of α,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes were modest to low, and e.e.s up to 52% were obtained. Trisubstituted nitroalkenes could be reduced to the corresponding nitroalkanes with excellent enantioselectivities, moderate diastereoselectivities and in good yield.     

Exploring the biocatalytic scope of a bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase

A bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), fused to phosphite dehydrogenase, has been used to explore its biocatalytic potential. The bifunctional biocatalyst could be expressed in high amounts in Escherichia coli and was able to oxidize indole and indole derivatives into a variety of indigo compounds. The monooxygenase also performs the sulfoxidation of a wide range of prochiral sulfides, showing moderate to good enantioselectivities in forming chiral sulfoxides.     

IspH protein of Escherichia coli: studies on iron-sulfur cluster implementation and catalysis

The ispH gene of Escherichia coli specifies an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl diphosphate into a mixture of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) in the nonmevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The implementation of a gene cassette directing the overexpression of the isc operon involved in the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters into an Escherichia coli strain engineered for ispH gene expression increased the catalytic activity of IspH protein anaerobically purified from this strain by a factor of at least 200. For maximum catalytic activity, flavodoxin and flavodoxin reductase were required in molar concentrations of 40 and 12 microM, respectively. EPR experiments as well as optical absorbance indicate the presence of a [3Fe-4S](+) cluster in IspH protein. Among 4 cysteines in total, the 36 kDa protein carries 3 absolutely conserved cysteine residues at the amino acid positions 12, 96, and 197. Replacement of any of the conserved cysteine residues reduced the catalytic activity by a factor of more than 70 000.     

Enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexanone derivatives via the organocatalytic direct Aldol reaction

Asymmetric desymmetrization of 4-substituted cyclohexanones using proline amide-catalyzed direct aldol reaction afforded beta-hydroxyketones with three stereogenic centers in high enantioselectivities of up to >99% ee.     

4-Hydroxyacetophenone monooxygenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens ACB as an oxidative biocatalyst in the synthesis of optically active sulfoxides

Recombinant 4-hydroxyacetophenone monooxygenase (HAPMO) from Pseudomonas fluorescens ACB has been tested as a catalyst in sulfoxidation reactions on a set of aromatic sulfides. With a few exceptions, excellent enantioselectivities in the synthesis of chiral phenyl and benzyl sulfoxides were achieved. The bacterial Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase was also shown to accept racemic sulfoxides, a prochiral diketone and an organoboron compound as substrates. This study demonstrates the great biocatalytic potential of this novel oxidative enzyme.