Sustainable Asymmetric Synthesis: Collaboration of Enzymes and Metal Catalysts

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02605
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47010:Pharmaceutical chemistry and drug development sciences-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Akai Shuji 大阪大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 教授 (60192457)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: リパーゼ / バナジウム / 不斉合成 / 軸不斉ビアリール化合物 / 動的速度論的光学分割 / プロパルギルアルコール / 第３級アルコール / 環境低負荷

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Enzymes are environmentally friendly and renewable catalysts because they come from nature through fermentation and return to nature through biodegradation. However, the use of enzymes in organic synthesis has been limited. In this study, we have invented the catalytic synthesis methods for some kinds of optically pure low-molecular-weight compounds by utilizing the characteristic properties of natural lipases in combination with artificial metal catalysts. The research results include the asymmetric syntheses of optically pure compounds such as tertiary alcohols, multi-substituted polycyclic aliphatic molecules, and chiral biaryl compounds, which are important core frameworks of medical drugs and agrochemicals. In addition, the enantioselective synthesis of both enantiomers was achieved using natural lipase.

Free Research Field

有機合成化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

再生可能な天然酵素リパーゼと、地殻に豊富に存在する金属バナジウムを併用して、持続可能な社会構築に資する「環境にやさしいものづくり」の基盤技術を構築する研究である。
本研究では、常温常圧で極めて高い選択性と触媒効率を示す酵素と、多彩な機能を創出できる人工の金属触媒という異質な触媒の協働によって、単独の触媒では成しえない難易度の高い化合物変換法を開拓した。特に、医農薬の基本構造体として重要な光学純粋な低分子化合物群の安全・簡便・高効率的な合成を実現した。