Enzyme catalysed Pictet-Spengler formation of chiral 1,1’-disubstituted- and spiro-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Benjamin R. Lichman; Jianxiong Zhao; Helen C. Hailes; John M. Ward

doi:10.1038/ncomms14883

Nature Communications (Apr 2017)

Enzyme catalysed Pictet-Spengler formation of chiral 1,1’-disubstituted- and spiro-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Benjamin R. Lichman,
Jianxiong Zhao,
Helen C. Hailes,
John M. Ward

Affiliations

Benjamin R. Lichman: Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London
Jianxiong Zhao: Department of Chemistry, University College London
Helen C. Hailes: Department of Chemistry, University College London
John M. Ward: Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14883
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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The Pictet-Spengler condensation of β-arylethylamine and carbonyl compounds is an important step in the synthesis of bioactive alkaloids. Here, the authors report a Pictet-Spengler reaction between dopamine and unactivated ketones catalysed by norcoclaurine synthase and its engineered variants.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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