C–H bonds are ubiquitous structural units of organic molecules. Although these bonds are generally considered to be chemically inert, the recent emergence of methods for C–H functionalization promises to transform the way synthetic chemistry is performed. The intermolecular amination of C–H bonds represents a particularly desirable and challenging transformation for which no efficient, highly selective, and renewable catalysts exist. Here we report the directed evolution of an iron-containing enzymatic catalyst—based on a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase—for the highly enantioselective intermolecular amination of benzylic C–H bonds. The biocatalyst is capable of up to 1,300 turnovers, exhibits excellent enantioselectivities, and provides access to valuable benzylic amines. Iron complexes are generally poor catalysts for C–H amination: in this catalyst, the enzyme's protein framework confers activity on an otherwise unreactive iron-haem cofactor.

中文翻译：

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工程化的铁血红素酶催化对映选择性分子间苄基CH胺化反应

C–H键是有机分子普遍存在的结构单元。尽管通常认为这些键是化学惰性的，但最近出现的C–H功能化方法有望改变合成化学的方法。C–H键的分子间胺化反应是一种特别理想且具有挑战性的转化，对于这种转化，不存在高效，高选择性和可再生的催化剂。在这里，我们报告了基于细胞色素P450单加氧酶的含铁酶催催化剂的定向进化，用于苄基CH键的高对映选择性分子间胺化。该生物催化剂能够进行多达1300次的转换，表现出出色的对映选择性，并提供了获得有价值的苄基胺的途径。铁络合物通常是C–H胺化的不良催化剂：