원문링크: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202012658

Research Background

Biocatalysis is emerging as a valuable and efficient alternative to traditional organo- and chemo-catalytic approaches used in synthesis. Multi-enzymatic, atom-efficient reactions have gained a surge in interest, owing to their potential for producing environmentally benign chemicals and pharmaceuticals. An important challenge for the developing such integrated catalytic systems is access to highly specific catalysts, which can be conveniently combined in complex reaction networks, and operate under the same reaction conditions.

Research Outcomes

Herein, we have reported a highly atom-efficient integrated cofactor/co-product recycling cascade employing cycloalkylamines as multifaceted starting materials for the synthesis of nylon building blocks. The reactions using E. coli whole cells as well as purified enzymes produced excellent conversions ranging from 〉80 and 95% into desired ω-amino acids, respectively with varying substrate concentrations. The applicability of this tandem biocatalytic cascade was demonstrated to produce the corresponding lactams by employing engineered biocatalysts (75% conversion from 10 mM cyclohexylamine by employing whole-cell biocatalysts).

Future plans

This highly atom efficient one-pot biocatalytic route paves the way for expanding a toolbox of recycling cascades to obtain versatile polymer building blocks. Currently we are working on the synthesis of short-carbon chain ω-amino alcohols and α, ω- diamines using this recycling cascade. Since, the whole-cell biocatalysts are more robust with respect to handling at industrial level, the development of suitable whole-cell system with desired expression of each biocatalyst would be highly desirable in the future.

Abstract

We report a highly atom-efficient integrated cofactor/co-product recycling cascade employing cycloalkylamines as multifaceted starting materials for the synthesis of nylon building blocks. Reactions using E. coli whole cells as well as purified enzymes produced excellent conversions ranging from 〉80 and 95 % into desired ω-amino acids, respectively with varying substrate concentrations. The applicability of this tandem biocatalytic cascade was demonstrated to produce the corresponding lactams by employing engineered biocatalysts. For instance, ϵ-caprolactam, a valuable polymer building block was synthesized with 75 % conversion from 10 mM cyclohexylamine by employing whole-cell biocatalysts. This cascade could be an alternative for bio-based production of ω-amino acids and corresponding lactam compounds.