Biocatalytic Strategy for the Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Fluorinated Cyclopropanes

Fluorinated cyclopropanes are highly desired pharmacophores in drug discovery owing to the rigid nature of the cyclopropane ring and the beneficial effects of C-F bonds on the pharmacokinetic properties, cell permeability, and metabolic stability of drug molecules. Herein a biocatalytic strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of mono-fluorinated and gem-difluoro cyclopropanes is reported though the use of engineered myoglobin-based catalysts. In particular, this system allows for a broad range of gem-difluoro alkenes to be cyclopropanated in the presence of diazoacetonitrile with excellent diastereo and enantiocontrol (up to 99 : 1 d.r. and 99 % e.e.), thereby enabling a transformation not currently accessible with chemocatalytic methods. The synthetic utility of the present approach is further exemplified through the gram-scale synthesis of a key gem-difluorinated cyclopropane intermediate useful for the preparation of fluorinated bioactive molecules.