One‐Step Biocatalytic Synthesis of Sustainable Surfactants by Selective Amide Bond Formation

Lubberink, Max; Finnigan, William; Schnepel, Christian; Baldwin, Christopher R.; Turner, Nicholas J.; Flitsch, Sabine L.

Abstract

N-alkanoyl-N-methylglucamides (MEGAs) are non-toxic surfactants widely used as commercial ingredients, but more sustainable syntheses towards these compounds are highly desirable. Here, we present a biocatalytic route towards MEGAs and analogues using a truncated carboxylic acid reductase construct tailored for amide bond formation (CARmm-A). CARmm-A is capable of selective amide bond formation without the competing esterification reaction observed in lipase catalysed reactions. A kinase was implemented to regenerate ATP from polyphosphate and by thorough reaction optimisation using design of experiments, the amine concentration needed for amidation was significantly reduced. The wide substrate scope of CARmm-A was exemplified by the synthesis of 24 commercially relevant amides, including selected examples on a preparative scale. This work establishes acyl-phosphate mediated chemistry as a highly selective strategy for biocatalytic amide bond formation in the presence of multiple competing alcohol functionalities.

Citation

Lubberink, M., Finnigan, W., Schnepel, C., Baldwin, C. R., Turner, N. J., & Flitsch, S. L. (2022). One‐Step Biocatalytic Synthesis of Sustainable Surfactants by Selective Amide Bond Formation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61(30), Article e202205054. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202205054

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 8, 2022
• Publication Date: Jul 25, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 1, 2025
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• Print ISSN: 1433-7851
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-3773
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 30
• Article Number: e202205054
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202205054
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3263628