The reaction of enols and enolates with electrophiles is used extensively in synthesis. Here, protein engineering — substituting amino acid residues in an enzyme active site — is used to produce biocatalysts for the control of enolate chemistry. The adapted enzymes enable stereoselective C–C bond formation yielding N-heterocycles in high diastereomeric excess by the reaction of trisubstituted-enolates.
- Refaat B. Hamed
- J. Ruben Gomez-Castellanos
- Christopher J. Schofield