Biocatalytic One-Carbon Ring Expansion of Aziridines to Azetidines via a Highly Enantioselective [1,2]-Stevens Rearrangement

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Mar 23;144(11):4739-4745. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c00251. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Abstract

We report enantioselective one-carbon ring expansion of aziridines to make azetidines as a new-to-nature activity of engineered "carbene transferase" enzymes. A laboratory-evolved variant of cytochrome P450BM3, P411-AzetS, not only exerts unparalleled stereocontrol (99:1 er) over a [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement but also overrides the inherent reactivity of aziridinium ylides, cheletropic extrusion of olefins, to perform a [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement. By controlling the fate of the highly reactive aziridinium ylide intermediates, these evolvable biocatalysts promote a transformation which cannot currently be performed using other catalyst classes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Azetidines*
  • Aziridines*
  • Carbon
  • Catalysis
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Azetidines
  • Aziridines
  • Carbon