N-oxygenation of amino compounds: Early stages in its application to the biocatalyzed preparation of bioactive compounds

NÓBILE, MATÍAS L.; STRICKER, ABIGAIL M.; MARCHESANO, LUCAS; IRIBARREN, ADOLFO M.; LEWKOWICZ, ELIZABETH S.

BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2021 vol. 51

0734-9750

Among the compounds that contain unusual functional groups, nitro is perhaps one ofthe most interesting due to the valuable properties it confers on pharmaceuticals andexplosives. Traditional chemistry has for many years used environmentally unfriendlystrategies; in contrast, the biocatalyzed production of this type of products offers apromising alternative. The small family of enzymes formed by N -oxygenases allowsthe conversion of an amino group to a nitro through the sequential addition of oxygen.These enzymes also make it possible to obtain other less oxidized N-O functions, suchas hydroxylamine or nitroso, present in intermediate or final products. The currentsubstrates on which these enzymes are reported to work encompass a few aromaticmolecules and sugars. The unique characteristics of N -oxygenases and the greateconomic value of the products that they could generate, place them in a position ofvery high scientific and industrial interest. The most important and best studied N -oxygenases will be presented here.