Chiral Alcohols from Alkenes and Water: Directed Evolution of a Styrene Hydratase. (11th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gajdoš, Matúš; Wagner, Jendrik; Ospina, Felipe; Köhler, Antonia; Engqvist, Martin K. M.; Hammer, Stephan C.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 135:Number 7(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-01-11
• Subjects: Alkene Hydration -- Biocatalysis -- Directed Evolution -- Hydratase -- Stereoselective Catalysis; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202215093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Enantioselective synthesis of chiral alcohols through asymmetric addition of water across an unactivated alkene is a highly sought‐after transformation and a big challenge in catalysis. Herein we report the identification and directed evolution of a fatty acid hydratase from Marinitoga hydrogenitolerans for the highly enantioselective hydration of styrenes to yield chiral 1‐arylethanols. While directed evolution for styrene hydration was performed in the presence of heptanoic acid to mimic fatty acid binding, the engineered enzyme displayed remarkable asymmetric styrene hydration activity in the absence of the small molecule activator. The evolved styrene hydratase provided access to chiral alcohols from simple alkenes and water with high enantioselectivity (>99 : 1 e.r.) and could be applied on a preparative scale. Abstract : The enantioselective addition of water across unactivated alkenes is a much sought‐after chemical transformation and a major challenge in catalysis. Now a promiscuous engineered fatty acid hydratase produces chiral alcohols with high enantioselectivity, also on a preparative scale, using simple alkenes and water as reactants.