Biosynthetic Origin of the Antibiotic Cyclocarbamate Brabantamide A (SB‐253514) in Plant‐Associated Pseudomonas.

Within the framework of our genome‐based program to discover new antibiotic lipopeptides from Pseudomonads, brabantamides A–C were isolated from plant‐associated Pseudomonas sp. SH‐C52. Brabantamides A–C displayed moderate to high in vitro activities against Gram‐positive bacterial pathogens. Their shared structure is unique in that they contain a 5,5‐bicyclic carbamate scaffold. Here, the biosynthesis of brabantamide A (SB‐253514) was studied by a combination of bioinformatics, feeding experiments with isotopically labelled precursors and in vivo and in vitro functional analysis of enzymes encoded in the biosynthetic pathway. The studies resulted in the deduction of all biosynthetic building blocks of brabantamide A and revealed an unusual feature of this metabolite: its biosynthesis occurs via an initially formed linear di‐lipopeptide that is subsequently rearranged by a novel FAD‐dependent Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase.     

A New Type of Stereoselectivity in Baeyer–Villiger Reactions: Access to E‐ and Z‐Olefins

A new concept for accessing configurationally defined trisubstituted olefins has been developed. Starting from a common ketone precursor of the type 4‐ethylidenecyclohexanone, Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases are employed as catalysts in diastereoselective Baeyer–Villiger reactions leading to the corresponding E‐ or Z‐configurated lactones. Wild‐type cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) as catalyst delivers the E‐isomers and a directed evolution mutant the opposite Z‐isomers. Subsequent transition metal‐catalyzed chemical transformations of a key product containing a vinyl bromide moiety provide a variety of different trisubstituted E‐ or Z‐olefins. A model based on QM/MM sheds light on the origin of this unusual type of diastereoselectivity. In contrast to this biocatalytic approach, traditional Baeyer–Villiger reagents such as m‐CPBA fail to show any selectivity, 1:1 mixtures of E‐ and Z‐olefins being formed.     

Biosynthetic Code for Divergolide Assembly in a Bacterial Mangrove Endophyte

Divergolides are structurally diverse ansamycins produced by a bacterial endophyte (Streptomyces sp.) of the mangrove tree Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. By genomic analyses a gene locus coding for the divergolide pathway was detected. The div gene cluster encodes genes for the biosynthesis of 3‐amino‐5‐hydroxybenzoate and the rare extender units ethylmalonyl‐CoA and isobutylmalonyl‐CoA, polyketide assembly by a modular type I polyketide synthase (PKS), and enzymes involved in tailoring reactions, such as a Baeyer–Villiger oxygenase. A detailed PKS domain analysis confirmed the stereochemical integrity of the divergolides and provided valuable new insights into the formation of the diverse aromatic chromophores. The bioinformatic analyses and the isolation and full structural elucidation of four new divergolide congeners led to a revised biosynthetic model that illustrates the formation of four different types of ansamycin chromophores from a single polyketide precursor.     

Aureobasidium subglaciale F134 is a bifunctional whole-cell biocatalyst for Baeyer–Villiger oxidation or selective carbonyl reduction controllable by temperature

The microbial production of either ester/lactones or enantio-enriched alcohols through Baeyer–Villiger oxidation or stereoselective reduction of ketones, respectively, is possible by using whole cells of A. subglaciale F134 as a bifunctional biocatalyst. The chemoselective pattern of acetophenone biotransformation catalyzed by these cells can be regulated through reaction temperature, directing the reaction either towards oxidation or reduction products. The Baeyer–Villiger oxidation activity of A. subglaciale F134 whole cells is particularly dependent on reaction temperature. Acetophenone was transformed efficiently to phenol via the primary Baeyer–Villiger product phenyl acetate at 20 °C after 48 h with 100% conversion. In contrast, at 35 °C, enantio-enriched (S)-1-phenylethanol was obtained as the sole product with 64% conversion and 89% ee. In addition, A. subglaciale F134 cells also catalyze the selective reduction of various structurally different aldehydes and ketones to alcohols with 40% to 100% yield, indicating broad substrate spectrum and good enantioselectivity in relevant cases. Our study provides a bifunctional biocatalyst system that can be used in Baeyer–Villiger oxidation as well as in asymmetric carbonyl reduction, setting the stage for future work concerning the identification and isolation of the respective enzymes.     

From Bugs to Bioplastics: Total (+)-Dihydrocarvide Biosynthesis by Engineered Escherichia coli

The monoterpenoid lactone derivative (+)-dihydrocarvide ((+)-DHCD) can be polymerised to form shape-memory polymers. Synthetic biology routes from simple, inexpensive carbon sources are an attractive, alternative route over chemical synthesis from (R)-carvone. We have demonstrated a proof-of-principle in vivo approach for the complete biosynthesis of (+)-DHCD from glucose in Escherichia coli (6.6 mg L⁻¹). The pathway is based on the Mentha spicata route to (R)-carvone, with the addition of an ′ene′-reductase and Baeyer–Villiger cyclohexanone monooxygenase. Co-expression with a limonene synthesis pathway enzyme enables complete biocatalytic production within one microbial chassis. (+)-DHCD was successfully produced by screening multiple homologues of the pathway genes, combined with expression optimisation by selective promoter and/or ribosomal binding-site screening. This study demonstrates the potential application of synthetic biology approaches in the development of truly sustainable and renewable bioplastic monomers.     

Investigation of a New Type I Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase from Amycolatopsis thermoflava Revealed High Thermodynamic but Limited Kinetic Stability

Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) are remarkable biocatalysts, but, due to their low stability, their application in industry is hampered. Thus, there is a high demand to expand on the diversity and increase the stability of this class of enzyme. Starting from a known thermostable BVMO sequence from Thermocrispum municipale (TmCHMO), a novel BVMO from Amycolaptosis thermoflava (BVMO_Flava), which was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), was identified. The activity and stability of the purified enzyme was investigated and the substrate profile for structurally different cyclohexanones and cyclobutanones was assigned. The enzyme showed a lower activity than that of cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO_Acineto) from Acinetobacter sp., as the prototype BVMO, but indicated higher kinetic stability by showing a twofold longer half-life at 30 °C. The thermodynamic stability, as represented by the melting temperature, resulted in a T_m value of 53.1 °C for BVMO_Flava, which was comparable to the T_m of TmCHMO (ΔT_m=1 °C) and significantly higher than the T_m value for CHMO_Acineto ((ΔT_m=14.6 °C)). A strong deviation between the thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of BVMO_Flava was observed; this might have a major impact on future enzyme discovery for BVMOs and their synthetic applications.     

Environmentally friendly liquid phase oxidation: enhanced selectivity in the aerial oxidation of alkyl aromatics,epoxidations and the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation using novel silica supported transition metal ions

Active transition metal species (Co, Cu, Cr, Ni or Mn) supported on a chemically modified silica gel are used as heterogeneous catalysts in a range of liquid phase oxidation reactions: alkyl aromatic side chain oxidations, epoxidations of alkenes and Baeyer–Villiger oxidations of linear ketones to esters and cyclic ketones to lactones. The catalyst employs metal centres bound to the silica surface via a hydrophobic spacer chain and is thus chemically robust and has a relatively high loading for a supported reagent (c 0.4 mmol g⁻¹). The Cr version of the catalyst promotes the oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone in a solvent‐free system at a rate of 5.5% h⁻¹ (>370 turnover h⁻¹). It is also active for the oxidation of p‐chlorotoluene and p‐xylene to p‐chlorobenzoic acid and p‐toluic acid respectively. Cyclohexene is converted to its oxide at room temperature at a rate of c 28% h⁻¹ (c 12 turnover h⁻¹) using either the Ni or Cu versions of the catalyst. The room temperature Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone is achieved at a rate of 44% h⁻¹ (49 turnover h⁻¹) using the Ni‐containing catalyst. The same material also promotes the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of linear aliphatic ketones and aromatic side chains. All the above systems use either air or molecular oxygen as the oxidant rather than peroxides or peracids. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Direct Access to Medium‐Chain α,ω‐Dicarboxylic Acids by Using a Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase of Abnormal Regioselectivity

Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) are versatile biocatalysts in organic synthesis that can generate esters or lactones by inserting a single oxygen atom adjacent to a carbonyl moiety. The regioselectivity of BVMOs is essential in determining the ratio of two regioisomers for converting asymmetric ketones. Herein, we report a novel BVMO from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaBVMO); this has been exploited for the direct synthesis of medium‐chain α,ω‐dicarboxylic acids through a Baeyer–Villiger oxidation–hydrolysis cascade. PaBVMO displayed the highest abnormal regioselectivity toward a variety of long‐chain aliphatic keto acids (C₁₆–C₂₀) to date, affording dicarboxylic monoesters with a ratio of up to 95 %. Upon chemical hydrolysis, α,ω‐dicarboxylic acids and fatty alcohols are readily obtained without further treatment; this significantly reduces the synthetic steps of α,ω‐dicarboxylic acids from renewable oils and fats.     

The Catalytic Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation of Cyclohexanone to ε-Caprolactone over Stibium-containing Hydrotalcite

A series of hydrotalcite-like compounds were prepared under microwave irradiation, which were used to catalyze the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to ε-caprolactone with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The results show that stibium-containing hydrotalcite (Sb-HTL) has good catalytic properties in the reaction. In the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to ε-caprolactone with H₂O₂ catalyzed by Sb-HTL, the effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, amount of catalyst and H₂O₂/cyclohexanone molar ratio are also investigated in details. It is shown the cyclohexanone conversion and ε-caprolactone selectivity can reach 79.15 and 93.84%, respectively, under the optimum reaction conditions. Furthermore, Sb-HTL can be reused for six times without obvious loss of activity and selectivity. Therefore, Sb-HTL is reusable and would be a promising catalyst for the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation using green and cheap oxidants like hydrogen peroxide instead of peroxycarboxylic acids.     

Switch in Cofactor Specificity of a Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase

Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) catalyze the oxidation of ketones to esters or lactones by using molecular oxygen and a cofactor. Type I BVMOs display a strong preference for NADPH. However, for industrial purposes NADH is the preferred cofactor, as it is ten times cheaper and more stable. Thus, we created a variant of the cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 (CHMO_Acineto); this used NADH 4200‐fold better than NADPH. By combining structure analysis, sequence alignment, and literature data, 21 residues in proximity of the cofactor were identified and targeted for mutagenesis. Two combinatorial variants bearing three or four mutations showed higher conversions of cyclohexanone with NADH (79 %) compared to NADPH (58 %) as well as specificity. The structural reasons for this switch in cofactor specificity of a type I BVMO are especially a hydrogen‐bond network coordinating the two hydroxy groups of NADH through direct interactions and bridging water molecules.     

Clean Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation Using Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant Catalyzed by Aluminium Trichloride in Ethanol

Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of ketones was carried out using AlCl₃ as catalyst, H₂O₂ (30%) as oxidant in innocuity and environmentally friendly ethanol conditions. Cyclic ketones and acyclic ketones were transformed into the corresponding lactones or esters in 5–24 h at 40–70 °C with very high conversion and selectivity. A possible reaction mechanism was also given.     

Pyrazinium Salts as Efficient Organocatalysts of Mild Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide

A series of 3‐substituted pyrazinium tetrafluoroborates was prepared as simple analogues of flavinium salts which are efficient organocatalysts for oxidations with hydrogen peroxide. It was shown that pyrazinium derivatives with an electron‐withdrawing substituent catalyze mild oxidations of sulfides to sulfoxides and Baeyer–Villiger oxidations in a similar way to flavinium catalysts. The most reactive catalyst, 3‐cyanopyrazinium tetrafluoroborate, was efficiently employed in preparative sulfoxidations of aromatic and aliphatic sulfides as well as in Baeyer–Villiger oxidations of cyclobutanones. A proposed mechanism for the catalysis is based on the formation of pyrazine hydroperoxide which is the agent oxidizing the substrate.     

Controlling the Regioselectivity of Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenases by Mutation of Active‐Site Residues

Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO)‐mediated regiodivergent conversions of asymmetric ketones can lead to the formation of “normal” or “abnormal” lactones. In a previous study, we were able to change the regioselectivity of a BVMO by mutation of the active‐site residues to smaller amino acids, which thus created more space. In this study, we demonstrate that this method can also be used for other BVMO/substrate combinations. We investigated the regioselectivity of 2‐oxo‐Δ³‐4,5,5‐trimethylcyclopentenylacetyl‐CoA monooxygenase from Pseudomonas putida (OTEMO) for cis‐bicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐2‐en‐6‐one ( 1 ) and trans‐dihydrocarvone ( 2 ), and we were able to switch the regioselectivity of this enzyme for one of the substrate enantiomers. The OTEMO wild‐type enzyme converted (?)‐ 1 into an equal (50:50) mixture of the normal and abnormal products. The F255A/F443V variant produced 90 % of the normal product, whereas the W501V variant formed up to 98 % of the abnormal product. OTEMO F255A exclusively produced the normal lactone from (+)‐ 2 , whereas the wild‐type enzyme was selective for the production of the abnormal product. The positions of these amino acids were equivalent to those mutated in the cyclohexanone monooxygenases from Arthrobacter sp. and Acinetobacter sp. (CHMO_Arthro and CHMO_Acineto) to switch their regioselectivity towards (+)‐ 2 , which suggests that there are hot spots in the active site of BVMOs that can be targeted with the aim to change the regioselectivity.     

Towards practical Baeyer-Villiger-monooxygenases: design of cyclohexanone monooxygenase mutants with enhanced oxidative stability

Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) catalyze the conversion of ketones and cyclic ketones into esters and lactones, respectively. Cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 is known to show an impressive substrate scope as well as exquisite chemo‐, regio‐, and enantioselectivity in many cases. Large‐scale synthetic applications of CHMO are hampered, however, by the instability of the enzyme. Oxidation of cysteine and methionine residues contributes to this instability. Designed mutations of all the methionine and cysteine residues in the CHMO wild type (WT) showed that the amino acids labile towards oxidation are mostly either surface‐exposed or located within the active site, whereas the two methionine residues identified for thermostabilization are buried within the folded protein. Combinatorial mutations gave rise to two stabilized mutants with either oxidative or thermal stability, without compromising the activity or stereoselectivity of the enzyme. The most oxidatively stabilized mutant retained nearly 40 % of its activity after incubation with H₂O₂ (0.2 M ), whereas the wild‐type enzyme's activity was completely abolished at concentrations as low as 5 mM H₂O₂. We propose that oxidation‐stable mutants might well be a “prerequisite” for thermostabilization, because laboratory‐evolved thermostability in CHMO might be masked by a high degree of oxidation instability.     

A flavoprotein monooxygenase that catalyses a Baeyer-Villiger reaction and thioether oxidation using NADH as the nicotinamide cofactor

A gene from the marine bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia encodes a 38.6 kDa FAD‐containing flavoprotein (Uniprot B2FLR2) named S. maltophilia flavin‐containing monooxygenase (SMFMO), which catalyses the oxidation of thioethers and also the regioselective Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of the model substrate bicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐2‐en‐6‐one. The enzyme was unusual in its ability to employ either NADH or NADPH as nicotinamide cofactor. The K_M and k_cat values for NADH were 23.7±9.1 μM and 0.029 s^?1 and 27.3±5.3 μM and 0.022 s^?1 for NADPH. However, k_cat/K_M value for the ketone substrate in the presence of 100 μM cofactor was 17 times greater for NADH than for NADPH. SMFMO catalysed the quantitative conversion of 5 mM ketone in the presence of substoichiometric concentrations of NADH with the formate dehydrogenase cofactor recycling system, to give the 2‐oxa and 3‐oxa lactone products of Baeyer–Villiger reaction in a ratio of 5:1, albeit with poor enantioselectivity. The conversion with NADPH was 15 %. SMFMO also catalysed the NADH‐dependent transformation of prochiral aromatic thioethers, giving in the best case, 80 % ee for the transformation of p‐chlorophenyl methyl sulfide to its R enantiomer. The structure of SMFMO reveals that the relaxation in cofactor specificity appears to be accomplished by the substitution of an arginine residue, responsible for recognition of the 2′‐phosphate on the NADPH ribose in related NADPH‐dependent FMOs, with a glutamine residue in SMFMO. SMFMO is thus representative of a separate class of single‐component, flavoprotein monooxygenases that catalyse NADH‐dependent oxidations from which possible sequences and strategies for developing NADH‐dependent biocatalysts for asymmetric oxygenation reactions might be identified.     

Solvent-free Baeyer–Villiger oxidation with H2O2 as oxidant catalyzed by multi-SO3H functionalized heteropolyanion-based ionic hybrids

Three novel multi-SO₃H functionalized heteropolyanion-based ionic hybrids were synthesized and characterized, which as heterogeneous catalysts for Baeyer–Villiger oxidation using 35% aqueous H₂O₂ as oxidant show high catalytic activity under solvent-free conditions, the target lactones were obtained with yields of 69% to 88% in 3 h at 50 °C. Three ionic hybrids could be recovered readily and their catalytic activity almost completely retained after ten recycles.     

Application of a thermostable Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase for the synthesis of branched polyester precursors

BACKGROUND

It is widely accepted that the poor thermostability of Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases limits their use as biocatalysts for applied biocatalysis in industrial applications. The goal of this study was to investigate the biocatalytic oxidation of 3,3,5‐trimethylcyclohexanone using a thermostable cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Thermocrispum municipale (TmCHMO) for the synthesis of branched ?‐caprolactone derivatives as building blocks for tuned polymeric backbones. In this multi‐enzymatic reaction, the thermostable cyclohexanone monooxygenase was fused to a phosphite dehydrogenase (PTDH) in order to ensure co‐factor regeneration.

RESULTS

Using reaction engineering, the reaction rate and product formation of the regio‐isomeric branched lactones were improved and the use of co‐solvents and the initial substrate load were investigated. Substrate inhibition and poor product solubility were overcome using continuous substrate feeding regimes, as well as a biphasic reaction system with toluene as water‐immiscible organic solvent. A maximum volumetric productivity, or space–time‐yield, of 1.20 g L^‐1 h^‐1 was achieved with continuous feeding of substrate using methanol as co‐solvent, while a maximum product concentration of 11.6 g L^‐1 was achieved with toluene acting as a second phase and substrate reservoir.

CONCLUSION

These improvements in key process metrics therefore demonstrate progress towards the up‐scaled Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase‐biocatalyzed synthesis of the target building blocks for polymer application. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

     

Kinetically guided high-yield and rapid production of ε-caprolactone in a microreactor system

Industrial production of ε-caprolactone, the monomer of biodegradable polycaprolactone, consists of acetic acid peroxidation and the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone in semi-batch reactors. The strong exothermic feature of the latter and ease of ε-caprolactone hydrolysis significantly affects the production efficiency. Here, collective effects of kinetic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal activation energy of the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation is higher than that of ε-caprolactone hydrolysis and the hydrolysis barrier is controlled by hydrogen bond energy of the reaction medium. Then, we developed a microreactor system to intensify heat transfer thereby allowing safe and efficient production of ε-caprolactone. A yield of 99.6% was achieved within minutes via consecutive two-step reactions of peroxidation and the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation, as compared with state-of-the-art yield of 96% in hours of industrial operation. The high selectivity is attributed to high reaction temperature allowed by the microreactor and DFT-guided choice of solvent to mitigate the hydrolysis.     

Organoselenium‐Catalyzed Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones by Hydrogen Peroxide to Access Vinyl Esters

By carefully screening the organoselenium pre‐catalysts and optimizing the reaction conditions, simple dibenzyl diselenide was found to be the best pre‐catalyst for Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones with the green oxidant hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The organoselenium catalyst used in this reaction could be recycled and reused several times. This new method was suitable not only for methyl unsaturated ketones, but also for alkyl and aryl unsaturated ketones. Therefore, it provided a direct, mild, practical, highly functional group‐tolerant process for the chemoselective preparation of the versatile (E)‐vinyl esters from the readily available (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones. A possible mechanism was also proposed to rationalize the activity of the organoselenium catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide in this Baeyer–Villiger oxidation reaction.

     

Facile synthesis of poly(4‐hydroxy styrene) from polystyrene

A facile methodology to modify polystyrene, to incorporate alkali soluble hydroxy groups, is reported. Polystyrene of well‐defined number‐average molecular weights in the range of 3000 to 50,000 were prepared by suspension polymerization at 80°C by varying the relative mole ratio of carbon tetrachloride, used as chain transfer agent. Polystyrenes were acetylated; the acetyl groups were converted to acetoxy groups, by Baeyer–Villiger oxidation, and hydrolyzed in a nonaqueous alkaline medium to generate hydroxy groups. The extents of modifications were monitored by infrared spectroscopy. The glass transition temperatures of poly(4‐acetylstyrene‐co‐styrene), poly(4‐acetylstyrene‐co‐4‐acetoxystyrene‐co‐styrene), and poly(4‐hydroxystyrene‐co‐4‐acetylstyrene‐co‐styrene) were 107, 134, and 142°C, respectively. The polymers were evaluated in photoresist formulations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3192–3201, 2004