In Situ Enzymatic Screening (ISES): A Tool for Catalyst Discovery and Reaction Development

Can enzymes help organic chemists identify new transition-metal catalysts? The first example of the in situ enzymatic monitoring of an organic transformation is described. Thus, a transition-metal-mediated allylic-amination reaction in the organic layer (see scheme; R=para-methoxyphenyl, tosyl) leads to release of ethanol which causes the spectroscopically observable formation of NADH in the aqueous phase. This approach uncovers a new Ni0-promoted route to β,γ-unsaturated amino acids. HMDS=1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane.