Mid Sweden University

The biocatalytic synthesis of chiral amines has become a valuable addition to the chemists' tool-box. However, the efficient asymmetric synthesis of functionalised amines bearing more than one stereocentre, such as 1,3-amino alcohols, remains challenging. By employing a keto reductase (KRED) and two enantiocomplementary amine transaminases (ATA), we developed a biocatalytic route towards all four diastereomers of 4-amino-1-phenylpentane-2-ol as a representative molecule bearing the 1,3-amino alcohol functionality. Starting from a racemic hydroxy ketone, a kinetic resolution using an (S)-selective KRED provided optically active hydroxy ketone (86% ee) and the corresponding diketone. Further transamination of the hydroxy ketone was performed by either an (R)- or an (S)-selective ATA, yielding the (2R,4R)- and (2R,4S)-1,3-amino alcohol diastereomers. The remaining two diastereomers were accessible in two subsequent asymmetric steps: the diketone was reduced regio- and enantioselectively by the same KRED, which yielded the (S)-configured hydroxy ketone. Eventually, the subsequent transamination of the crude product with (R)- and (S)-selective ATAs yielded the remaining (2S,4R)and (2S,4S)-diastereomers, respectively.