One-pot chemoenzymatic synthesis of trolline and tetrahydroisoquinoline analogues

Chem Commun (Camb). 2018 Feb 1;54(11):1323-1326. doi: 10.1039/c7cc08024g.

Abstract

Chemoenzymatic reaction cascades can provide access to chiral compounds from low-cost starting materials in one pot. Here we describe one-pot asymmetric routes to tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (THIAs) using the Pictet-Spenglerase norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) followed by a cyclisation, to give alkaloids with two new heterocyclic rings. These reactions operated with a high atom economy to generate THIAs in high yields.