Biocatalytic Atroposelective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Styrenes via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

P Pengpeng Zhang (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China) Z Zhuangfei Tian (NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100050 P.R. China) C Congcong Li R Runze Meng (State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology) B Bowen Zhang X Xinzhuo Liu (Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianjin 300308 P.R. China) J Junkuan Li (Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianjin 300308 P.R. China) G Ge Qu (School of Materials Science and Engineering) N Nicholas J. Turner (Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.) B Bo Yuan H Haigen Fu (State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology) Z Zhoutong Sun (Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology Tianjin P. R. China)

Abstract

Abstract Enzymatic synthesis of atropisomers has recently attracted considerable research attention, with most studies focusing on axially chiral biaryls. We report a less explored atroposelective dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of nonbiaryl styrenes catalyzed by imine reductases (IREDs) and alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs). The IR189 wild type enzyme was identified to be highly active and selective; furthermore, the inversion of atroposelectivity was achieved with protein engineering. Additionally, two ADHs with enantio‐complementary selectivity for the reductive DKR were identified and applied in the synthesis of axially chiral styrenes. Both IREDs and ADHs exhibited broad substrate scope, affording up to 99:1 e.r. and 99% yields for up to 29 examples. Scaled‐up reactions and derivatization of optically pure products demonstrated the synthetic utility of these axially chiral styrenes. Molecular recognition mechanisms were elucidated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The current strategy expands the scope of enzymatic DKR of atropisomeric compounds and significantly advances the field of biocatalytic synthesis of axially chiral compounds.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 5
Published January 28, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

P

Pengpeng Zhang

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China

Z

Zhuangfei Tian

NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100050 P.R. China

C

Congcong Li

R

Runze Meng

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology

B

Bowen Zhang

X

Xinzhuo Liu

Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianjin 300308 P.R. China

J

Junkuan Li

Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianjin 300308 P.R. China

G

Ge Qu

School of Materials Science and Engineering

N

Nicholas J. Turner

Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.

B

Bo Yuan

H

Haigen Fu

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology

Z

Zhoutong Sun

Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology Tianjin P. R. China