Enantioselective [2+2]-cycloadditions with triplet photoenzymes

Ningning Sun, Jianjian Huang, Junyi Qian, Tai-Ping Zhou, Juan Guo, Langyu Tang, Wentao Zhang, Yaming Deng, Weining Zhao, Guojiao Wu, Rong-Zhen Liao, Xi Chen (), Fangrui Zhong () and Yuzhou Wu ()
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Ningning Sun: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Jianjian Huang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Junyi Qian: Northwest University
Tai-Ping Zhou: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Juan Guo: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Langyu Tang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Wentao Zhang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Yaming Deng: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Weining Zhao: Shenzhen Technology University
Guojiao Wu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Rong-Zhen Liao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Xi Chen: Northwest University
Fangrui Zhong: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
Yuzhou Wu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)

Nature, 2022, vol. 611, issue 7937, 715-720

Abstract: Abstract Naturally evolved enzymes, despite their astonishingly large variety and functional diversity, operate predominantly through thermochemical activation. Integrating prominent photocatalysis modes into proteins, such as triplet energy transfer, could create artificial photoenzymes that expand the scope of natural biocatalysis1–3. Here, we exploit genetically reprogrammed, chemically evolved photoenzymes embedded with a synthetic triplet photosensitizer that are capable of excited-state enantio-induction4–6. Structural optimization through four rounds of directed evolution afforded proficient variants for the enantioselective intramolecular [2+2]-photocycloaddition of indole derivatives with good substrate generality and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% enantiomeric excess). A crystal structure of the photoenzyme–substrate complex elucidated the non-covalent interactions that mediate the reaction stereochemistry. This study expands the energy transfer reactivity7–10 of artificial triplet photoenzymes in a supramolecular protein cavity and unlocks an integrated approach to valuable enantioselective photochemical synthesis that is not accessible with either the synthetic or the biological world alone.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05342-4

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