Bian, H.-D.; Huang, F.-P.

RSC Adv. 2016, 6, 44154-44162, 10.1039/C6RA08153C

Enantioselective oxidation of a series of alkyl aryl sulfides catalyzed by a novel VIV8 cluster is tested in an aqueous medium in the presence of serum albumin. The procedure is simple, environmentally friendly, selective, and highly reactive.

McNaughton, B.R.; Rovis, T.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 4815-4819, 10.1021/jacs.9b01596

Reliable design of artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) to access transformations not observed in nature remains a long-standing and important challenge. We report that a monomeric streptavidin (mSav) Rh(III) ArM permits asymmetric synthesis of α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactams via a tandem C–H activation and [4+2] annulation reaction. These products are readily derivatized to enantioenriched piperidines, the most common N-heterocycle found in FDA approved pharmaceuticals. Desired δ-lactams are achieved in yields as high as 99% and enantiomeric excess of 97% under aqueous conditions at room temperature. Embedding a Rh cyclopentadienyl (Cp*) catalyst in the active site of mSav results in improved stereocontrol and a 7-fold enhancement in reactivity relative to the isolated biotinylated Rh(III) cofactor. In addition, mSav-Rh outperforms its well-established tetrameric forms, displaying 11–33 times more reactivity.

Bian, H.-D.; Huang, F.-P.

Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2017, 28, 1700-1707, 10.1016/j.tetasy.2017.10.021

Four coordination complexes ML derived from an achiral Schiff base ligand (H2L = 2,2′-[(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(nitrilopropylidyne)]bisphenol) have been synthesized and characterized. A method is described for the enantioselective oxidation of a series of aryl alkyl sulfides using the coordination complexes in the presence of serum albumins (SAs) in an aqueous medium at ambient temperature. The mixture of metal complexes with serum albumins is useful for inducing asymmetric catalysis. The complex, albumin source and substrate influence stereoselective sulfoxidation. At optimal pH with the appropriate oxidant, some of ML/SA systems are identified as very efficient catalysts, giving the corresponding sulfoxides in excellent chemical yield (up to 100%) and good enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) in certain cases. UV–visible spectroscopic data provide evidence that stronger binding between the complex and serum albumin lead to higher enantioselectivity.

Imanaka, T.

FEBS Lett. 1995, 375, 273-276, 10.1016/0014-5793(95)01224-3

In order to engineer a new type of catalytic antibody, we attempt to use a monoclonal antibody L chain as a host protein for a porphyrin. TCPP (meso‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyine) was chemically synthesized and Balb/c mice were immunized using TCPP as a hapten. Two hybridoma cells (03‐1, 13‐1), that produce monoclonal antibody against TCPP, were obtained. Genes for both H and L chains of monoclonal antibodies were cloned, sequenced and overexpressed using E. coli as a host. ELISA and fluorescence quenching method show that the independent antibody L chains from both Mab03‐1 and Mab13‐1 have specific interaction with TCPP. Furthermore, the recombinant antibody L chain from Mab13‐1 exhibits much higher peroxidase activity than TCPP Fe(III) alone. The enzyme activity was detectable with pyrogallol and ABTS (2,2‐azinobis‐3‐ethylbenzthiazolin‐6‐sulfonic acid) but not with catechol. This new catalytic antibody was extremely thermostable. Optimum temperature of the peroxidase reaction by the complex of 13‐1L chain and TCPP Fe(III) was 90°C, while that the TCPP Fe(III) alone was 60°C.