Cofactor-independent photo-enzymatic reductions with water mediated by reductive graphene quantum dots
Anming Wang (Hangzhou Normal University)
Xiaoyu Li (Hangzhou Normal University)
Li Qiao (Hangzhou Normal University)
Xiaoting Pan (Hangzhou Normal University)
Yongjian Jiang (Hangzhou Normal University)
Zhiguo Wang (Hangzhou Normal University)
Wei Ye (Hangzhou Normal University)
Peng Gao (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Hangzhou Normal University)
Roger A. Sheldon (TU Delft - BT/Biocatalysis, University of Witwatersrand)
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Abstract
Enzymatic reductions catalyzed by reductases generally depend on reduced nicotinamide cofactors as a hydride source. However, for industrial viability, it is more cost-effective to use water as the hydrogen source, bypassing the requirement for the cofactor. Here we report a hybrid photo-biocatalyst system based on infrared (IR) light and responsive reductive graphene quantum dots (rGQDs), for performing the direct transfer of hydrogen from water to prochiral substrates. The photo-biocatalyst, assembled from rGQDs and cross-linked aldo-keto reductase (AKR), mediates the synthesis of the pharmaceutical intermediate, (R)−1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl] ethanol ((R)−3,5-BTPE), in 82% yield and >99.99% ee under IR illumination. Our photo-enzymatic systems can also be effectively used to drive the enzymatic reduction of imines and alkenes. Since the hybrid photo-biocatalysts are insoluble, they can be readily recovered and recycled. This work opens new avenues to create artificial photo-biocatalyst systems, enabling the facile coupling of renewable solar energy and sustainable chemical production.
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