Direct Terminal Alkylamino‐Functionalization via Multistep Biocatalysis in One Recombinant Whole‐Cell Catalyst

Direct and regiospecific amino‐functionalization of non‐activated carbon could be achieved using one recombinant microbial catalyst. The presented proof of concept shows that heterologous pathway engineering allowed the construction of a whole‐cell biocatalyst catalyzing the terminal amino‐functionalization of fatty acid methyl esters (e.g., dodecanoic acid methyl ester) and alkanes (e.g., octane). By coupling oxygenase and transaminase catalysis in vivo , both substrates are converted with absolute regiospecificity to the terminal amine via two sequential oxidation reactions followed by an amination step. Such demanding chemical three‐step reactions achieved with a single catalyst demonstrate the tremendous potential of whole‐cell biocatalysts for the production of industrially relevant building blocks.