Congratulations to Christian, Raquel and Juan!!

Chemoenzymatic One-Pot Cascade for the Construction of Asymmetric C-C and C-P Bonds via Formal C-H Activation, Ascaso-Alegre, C.; Herrera, R. P.; Mangas-Sanchez, J. ChemCatChem 2024, e202400817. DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202400817.

Abstract. The integration of organocatalysis and enzyme catalysis in one-pot cascade processes allows for the efficient construction of complex molecular architectures with high levels of stereocontrol. However, challenges related to reaction compatibility between both processes are often a limitation for the development of efficient synthetic routes. In this study, we describe the combination of an enzymatic aerobic oxidation followed by the squaramide-mediated asymmetric formation of C-P and C-C bonds to access important building blocks such as chiral α-hydroxyphosphonates and β-nitro alcohols in good yields and enantiomeric ratios. This sequential process is conducted in a one-pot fashion within a biphasic system and represents a pioneering example of a chemoenzymatic cascade involving aerobic biooxidation and an organocatalytic step operating under hydrogen-bond activation mode and under mild reaction conditions.