Asymmetric synthesis of propargylic alcohols using bifunctional glucose dehydrogenases

Herein, two bifunctional glucose dehydrogenases (GDHs) are reported that can efficiently catalyze the ketone reduction of α-ketoalkynes while regenerating NADPH for the ketone reduction process. The GDH-catalysed reaction can accept multiple types of α-ketoalkynes, including one particularly bulky substrate that typical alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) cannot efficiently work on. Notably, the developed biocatalytic approach allows gram-scale synthesis and the access to both (R) and (S) enantiomers of the products.