Biocatalytic Friedel‐Crafts Reactions

ABSTRACT: Abstract Friedel‐Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions are important methodologies in synthetic and industrial chemistry for the construction of aryl‐alkyl and aryl‐acyl linkages that are ubiquitous in bioactive molecules. Nature also exploits these reactions in many biosynthetic processes. Much work has been done to expand the synthetic application of these enzymes to unnatural substrates through directed evolution. The promise of such biocatalysts is their potential to supersede inefficient and toxic chemical approaches to these reactions, with mild operating conditions ‐ the hallmark of enzymes. Complementary work has created many bio‐hybrid Friedel‐Crafts catalysts consisting of chemical catalysts anchored into biomolecular scaffolds, which display many of the same desirable characteristics. In this Review, we summarise these efforts, focussing on both mechanistic aspects and synthetic considerations, concluding with an overview of the frontiers of this field and routes towards more efficient and benign Friedel‐Crafts reactions for the future of humankind. Artificial enzymes: Friedel‐Crafts reactions are a mainstay methodology for organic chemists to construct aryl‐alkyl and aryl‐acyl linkages. Nature uses biocatalysts for performing such reactions to construct an array of bio‐active compounds. In this Review we discuss several examples of such enzymes, as well Friedel‐Crafts artificial enzymes and DNA catalysts, from the useful products they produce, to their mechanism and approaches for engineering.

SUBMITTER: Leveson‐Gower R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9804301 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature