Enzymatic Nitrene Insertion into C–H Bonds for Synthesis of Enantioenriched Amides

Key words

amides - C–H bond insertion - nitrene transfer - asymmetric catalysis

Significance

Hirschi, Arnold, and co-workers report a nitrene insertion into benzylic C–H bonds by using engineered heme enzymes. The evolved enzymes transfer nitrenes to various arene-substituted substrates to give the corresponding products in moderate to good total turnover numbers and with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Comment

The amide group is widely distributed in various natural products, synthetic materials, and pharmaceutical products. In the highlighted method, the authors directly install amides onto alkanes as inexpensive feedstock chemicals. They ­obtain valuable enantioenriched products in an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way.

Publication History

Article published online:
17 November 2021