Unveiling the Biocatalytic Aromatizing Activity of Monoamine Oxidases MAO-N and 6-HDNO: Development of Chemoenzymatic Cascades for the Synthesis of Pyrroles

Abstract

A chemoenzymatic cascade process for the sustainable production of pyrroles has been developed. Pyrroles were synthesized by exploiting the previously unexplored aromatizing activity of monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAO-N and 6-HDNO). MAO-N/6-HDNO whole cell biocatalysts are able to convert 3-pyrrolines into pyrroles under mild conditions and in high yields. Moreover, MAO-N can work in combination with the ruthenium Grubbs catalyst, leading to the synthesis of pyrroles from diallylamines/-anilines in a one-pot cascade metathesis–aromatization sequence.