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Synlett 2022, 33, 12, 1204-1208

A Photoenzyme for Challenging Lactam Radical Cyclizations

Bryce T. Nicholls, Tianzhang Qiao, and Todd K. Hyster

Synlett 2022, 33, 12, 1204-1208

Publication Abstract

Reductive radical cyclizations are ubiquitous in organic synthesis and have been applied to the synthesis of structurally complex molecules. N-Heterocyclic motifs can be prepared through the cyclization of α-haloamides; however, slow rotation around the amide C–N bond results in preferential formation of an acyclic hydrodehalogenated product. Here, we compare four different methods for preparing γ-, δ-, ε-, and ζ-lactams via radical cyclization. We found that a photoenzymatic method using flavin-dependent ‘ene’ reductases affords the highest level of product selectivity. We suggest that through selective binding of the cis-amide isomer, the enzyme preorganizes the substrate for cyclization, helping to avoid premature radical termination.