We are pleased to announce the publication of a research paper resulting from the CARBAZYMES Project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program.
Special thanks to Zvjezdana Findrik Blazevic of the University of Zagreb for coordinating this exceptional work. Researchers from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology conducted the primary experiments detailed in this paper, alongside proficient mathematical modeling. This modeling was pivotal in comprehending and enhancing the intricate reaction system. The integration of modeling and directed process optimization proved instrumental in achieving efficiency and success.
In this work, a novel biocatalytic route to a statin side chain precursor through a one-pot cascade reaction was investigated. The process starts from the protected alcohol N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-phenylacetamide, which is oxidized to the corresponding aldehyde and then reacts with acetaldehyde to form the final product, phenylacetamide-lactol. By applying an reaction engineering approach, the reaction kinetics was studied , which provided valuable insights into the system. The best reactor mode as fed-batch with acetaldehyde feed, minimizing its negative impact on enzyme activity was identified. This novel cascade route presents an exciting alternative for synthesizing statin side chain precursors, offering significant potential value addition.
We also want to highlight the contributions from Prozomix Limited Ltd., particularly in the development of novel DERA and NOX enzymes, which were instrumental to the achievements. At Enzymicals AG, we successfully demonstrated the oxidation reaction of the lactol to the statin precursor on a 0.5 kg scale, showcasing the scalability and practical application of this innovative synthetic route.
This publication marks a significant achievement for the CarbaZymes project and underscores the power of international collaboration in advancing scientific and industrial innovation.
Link to the publication:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/RA/D4RA01633E
