Cooperative chemoenzymatic and biocatalytic cascades to access chiral sulfur compounds bearing C(sp3)–S stereocentres

Abstract

Biocatalysis has been widely employed for the generation of carbon-carbon/heteroatom stereocentres, yet its application in chiral C(sp³)–S bond construction is rare and limited to enzymatic kinetic resolutions. Herein, we describe the enantioselective construction of chiral C(sp³)–S bonds through ene-reductase biocatalyzed conjugate reduction of prochiral vinyl sulfides. A series of cooperative sequential/concurrent chemoenzymatic and biocatalytic cascades have been developed to access a broad range of chiral sulfides, including valuable β-hydroxysulfides bearing two adjacent C(sp³)–S and C(sp³)–O stereocentres, in a stereoconvergent manner with good to excellent yields (up to 96%) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Notably, this biocatalytic strategy allows to overcome the long-standing shortcomings of catalyst poisoning and C(sp²)/C(sp³)–S bond cleavage faced in transition-metal-catalyzed hydrogenation of vinyl sulfides. Finally, the potential of this methodology is also exemplified by its broader application in the stereoconvergent assembly of chiral C(sp³)–N/O/Se bonds with good to excellent enantioselctivities.

Biocatalysis has been widely employed for the generation of carbon-carbon/heteroatom stereocenters, yet its application in chiral C(sp³)–S bond construction is rare. Herein, the authors describe the enantioselective construction of chiral C(sp³)–S bonds through ene-reductase biocatalysed conjugate reduction of prochiral vinyl sulfides.