Description du projet
Une C-alkylation sélective et durable grâce à des enzymes de synthèse
Le carbone est le principal élément constitutif des composés organiques. Les liaisons carbone-carbone sont des liaisons fondamentales qui font partie des plus délicates à manipuler pour les chimistes de synthèse, leur rupture et leur formation imposant souvent de recourir à des catalyseurs. L’alkylation du carbone (C-alkylation), c’est à dire l’ajout ou la substitution d’un groupe alkyle constitué d’atomes de carbone liés uniquement à des hydrogènes, constitue l’une des réactions les plus importantes. Ses domaines d’application concernent la chimie organique, la fabrication de carburants et la médecine. Le projet BioAlk, financé par l’UE, s’appuiera sur des travaux exploitant les enzymes, des catalyseurs naturels, afin de faciliter cette réaction. Son objectif consiste à améliorer sensiblement la sélectivité afin de minimiser la quantité de produits indésirables et de maximiser la production sélective de composés précieux et recherchés.
Objectif
Alkylation, in particular carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formation, is one of the most important and challenging synthetic transformations in chemistry. Current chemical approaches for C-alkylation require the use of expensive and toxic transition metals with complex ligands that have limited selectivity. Developing sustainable methods for the controlled formation of C-C bonds with regio- and stereospecificity in high yields has the potential to change organic chemistry and provide access to new molecules. Enzymes, Nature’s catalysts that enhance reaction rates, can selectively catalyze such reactions, with current limitations due to high energy co-substrates and the requirement for specific starting materials, sometimes leading to undesired side products, therefore unsustainable to upscale.
I aim at developing the synthetic potential of key oxidoreductase enzymes towards the sustainable selective production of highly valuable compounds through C-C bond formation. Oxidoreductases traditionally catalyze reduction and oxidation reactions and are increasingly used at industrial scale for their mild reaction conditions and exquisite chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity. I will use the inherent mechanism of two particular oxidoreductases, ene reductases and alcohol dehydrogenases, and develop them towards selective C-C bond formation.
BioAlk aims at being disruptive in catalysis and organic synthesis by enabling new approaches for bench mark sustainable methods towards highly selective biocatalytic C-alkylation with industrially relevant oxidoreductases. I will design and develop non-natural enzymatic processes with ene reductase-catalyzed selective inter- and intramolecular α-alkylation of carbonyl and related compounds, and alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed nucleophilic reductive alkylation, while exploring the enzyme reaction mechanisms.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitution d’accueil
2628 CN Delft
Pays-Bas