Continuous‐Flow Modular Reactor with a Chiral Microenvironment Enhances the Biocatalytic Synthesis of Norepinephrine

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Authors: Jiayun Ma, Chenxin Hou, Mengxue Kang, Yan Chu, Yitong Wang, Xin Wang, G.X. Li, Hui Li, Kequan Chen
Cited by: 1
References: 41

Abstract

Abstract Chirality lies at the core of pharmaceutical molecular design. Multi‐enzyme cascade catalysis offers high stereoselectivity for constructing such molecules. Here, we present a continuous‐flow modular reactor engineered with a chiral microenvironment for the biocatalytic synthesis of norepinephrine. This system incorporates two functional modules: a chiral catalytic reactor, designed to enhance the C β stereoselectivity of L‐threonine aldolase (L‐TA), and a decarboxylation reactor to balance catalytic rates. Modifying the microenvironment surrounding L‐TA significantly enhanced its stereoselectivity, with 4.1 times increased the de value (from 18.4% to 75.01%). Seen from molecular dynamics simulations, these modifications reshaped the spatial conformation of the enzyme's active site. Moreover, at an optimal column height ratio of 3:5 between the chiral and decarboxylation modules, norepinephrine yield reached 3.07 g/L. This modular reactor strategy, enhanced by a tailored chiral microenvironment, offers substantial promise for the stereoselective synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization Catalysis for Biomass Conversion

Publication details

Journal / source
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
65
Issue
9
Pages
e14462–e14462
Publication date
18 January 2026
Language
EN