Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Enzymatic racemization of amines catalyzed by enantiocomplementary ω-transaminases
Dominik Koszelewski1, Barbara Grischek, Silvia M Glueck
1Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) c/o, Department of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Abstract:
A strategy for the biocatalytic racemization of primary α-chiral amines was developed by employing a pair of stereocomplementary PLP-dependent ω-transaminases. The interconversion of amine enantiomers proceeded through reversible transamination by a prochiral ketone intermediate, either catalyzed by a pair of stereocomplementary ω-transaminases or by a single enzyme possessing low stereoselectivity. To tune the system, the type and concentration of a nonchiral amino acceptor proved to be crucial. Finally, racemization could be achieved by the cross-transamination of two different amines without a requirement for an external amino acceptor. Several synthetically and industrially important amines could be enzymatically racemized under mild reaction conditions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stereochemical Effects of Enolization
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Enamine Formation Mechanism
Racemic Mixtures and the Resolution of Enantiomers
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...
Amines to Amides: Acylation of Amines
Next, the second equivalent of amine serves as a Brønsted base and deprotonates the quaternary amide...

