Enzymatic synthesis of fluorinated compounds

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Enzymology

Background:

• Fluorinated compounds are vital in molecular imaging, pharmaceuticals, and materials science.
• Naturally occurring fluorinated compounds are rare, making synthetic methods essential.
• Selective fluorination under mild conditions remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements (since 2015) in the enzymatic synthesis of fluorinated compounds.
• To highlight the effectiveness and mechanisms of various enzymes, particularly fluorinases.
• To outline the distribution, applications, and future trends of fluorinated compounds.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of enzymatic synthesis of fluorinated compounds since 2015.
• Analysis of diverse enzyme classes including cytochrome P450, aldolases, lipases, and fluorinases.
• Focus on the structure and catalytic mechanism of fluorinase for C-F bond formation.

Main Results:

• Enzyme catalysis is crucial for synthesizing fluorinated compounds.
• Fluorinase emerges as the most effective enzyme for direct C-F bond formation.
• The unique loop structure of fluorinase is key to its catalytic activity.

Conclusions:

• Enzymatic methods are significant for the synthesis of valuable fluorinated compounds.
• Fluorinase represents a highly promising biocatalyst for selective fluorination.
• Further research into finding or engineering superior fluoride synthases is warranted.