Chemoselective Cyclopropanation over Carbene Y–H Insertion Catalyzed by an Engineered Carbene Transferase

Abstract

Hemoproteins have recently emerged as promising biocatalysts for promoting a variety of carbene transfer reactions including cyclopropanation and Y–H insertion (Y = N, S, Si, B). For these and synthetic carbene transfer catalysts alike, achieving high chemoselectivity toward cyclopropanation in olefin substrates bearing unprotected Y–H groups has proven remarkably challenging due to competition from the more facile carbene Y–H insertion reaction. In this report, we describe the development of a novel artificial metalloenzyme based on an engineered myoglobin incorporating a serine-ligated Co-porphyrin cofactor that is capable of offering high selectivity toward olefin cyclopropanation over N–H and Si–H insertion. Intramolecular competition experiments revealed a distinct and dramatically altered chemoselectivity of the Mb­(H64V,V68A,H93S)­[Co­(ppIX)] variant in carbene transfer reactions compared to myoglobin-based variants containing the native histidine-ligated heme cofactor or other metal/proximal ligand substitutions. These studies highlight the functional plasticity of myoglobin as a “carbene transferase” and illustrate how modulation of the cofactor environment within this metalloprotein scaffold represents a valuable strategy for accessing carbene transfer reactivity not exhibited by naturally occurring hemoproteins or transition metal catalysts