Front Cover: Chemo‐ and Enantioselective Photoenzymatic Ketone Reductions Using a Promiscuous Flavin‐dependent Nitroreductase (ChemCatChem 8/2022)

Abstract

The Front Cover shows the usefulness of the photocatalyst Ru(bpy)3Cl2 under irradiation with blue light for expanding the catalytic repertoire of a flavin-dependent nitroreductase, using glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) for regeneration of the essential NADH cofactor. In their Research Article, A. Prats Luján, M. F. Bhat et al. report the discovery of a flavoenzyme, BaNTR1, that is able to promote enantio- and chemoselective photoenzymatic reductions of a broad range of ketones to yield the corresponding alcohols with high conversions and outstanding enantiopurity. Most importantly, BaNTR1 was able to promote the photoenzymatic reduction of various α,ß-unsaturated ketones to give the corresponding optically pure alcohols without reducing the C=C or C≡C bond, demonstrating its astoundingly high chemoselectivity. More information can be found in the Research Article by A. Prats Luján, M. F. Bhat et al.