Quinoline derivatives are important natural products and pharmaceuticals, but their synthesis can be challenging due to poor yields, harsh reaction conditions, and instability of starting materials. Here we report the chemoenzymatic synthesis of quinaldic acids under mild conditions using an aldolase, trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate hydratase-aldolase (NahE, or HBPA). A series of 2-aminobenzaldehydes derived from reduction of the corresponding nitro analogue were reacted with pyruvate in the presence of NahE to give substituted quinolines in up to 93% isolated yield. This reaction differs from the aldol condensation catalyzed by NahE in vivo, instead resembling the heterocycle formation catalyzed by its homologue, dihydrodipicolinate synthase.

Type I aldolases catalyze carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions to form a diverse set of products in nature but often display high selectivity for their natural substrates. One such aldolase, NahE, is known to catalyze the condensation of pyruvate with a wide range of aldehydes to give trans-4-phenyl-2-oxo-3-butenoic acids under mild aqeuous conditions. These ,-unsaturated 2-oxo acids are versatile intermediates for synthetic transformations. NahE has also been used for the synthesis of α-fluoro-β-hydroxy esters, β-hydroxy esters, and quinaldic acids. However, a thorough study of the substrate scope on a practical scale has not been performed for the native NahE-catalyzed aldol condensation reaction. Here we report that NahE can accept >35 (hetero)aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. Most condensation products derived from substituted benzaldehydes were isolated in >95% yield without need for further purification, while non-benzaldehyde substrates gave the corresponding products in isolated yields between 26 and 98%. Reactions could be performed on gram scale. These products could be converted to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in up to 93% yield over two steps. This reaction sequence was also performed using whole cells in up to 79% yield. This work demonstrates that NahE is a robust, efficient, and versatile catalyst for organic synthesis.

Michael addition reactions are highly useful in organic synthesis and are commonly accomplished using organocatalysts. However, the corresponding biocatalytic Michael additions are rare, typically lack synthetically useful substrate scope, and suffer from low stereoselectivity. Herein we report a biocatalytic nitro-Michael addition, catalyzed by NahE, that proceeds with low catalyst loading at room temperature in moderate to excellent enantioselectivity and high yields. A series of β-nitrostyrenes reacted with pyruvate in the presence of NahE to give, after oxidative decarboxylation, β-aryl-γnitrobutyric acids in up to 99 % yield without need for chromatography, providing a simple preparative-scale route to chiral GABA analogues. This reaction represents the first example of an aldolase displaying promiscuous Michaelase activity and opens the use of nitroalkenes in place of aldehydes as substrates for aldolases.

Michael addition reactions are highly useful in organic synthesis and are commonly accomplished using organocatalysts. However, the corresponding biocatalytic Michael additions are rare, typically lack synthetically useful substrate scope, and suffer from low stereoselectivity. Herein we report a biocatalytic nitro‐Michael addition, catalyzed by NahE, that proceeds with low catalyst loading at room temperature in moderate to excellent enantioselectivity and high yields. A series of β‐nitrostyrenes reacted with pyruvate in the presence of NahE to give, after oxidative decarboxylation, β‐aryl‐γ‐nitrobutyric acids in up to 99 % yield without need for chromatography, providing a simple preparative‐scale route to chiral GABA analogues. This reaction represents the first example of an aldolase displaying promiscuous Michaelase activity and opens the use of nitroalkenes in place of aldehydes as substrates for aldolases.