The benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are an important group of secondary metabolites from higher plants and have been reported to show significant biological activities. The production of BIAs through synthetic biology approaches provides a higher‐yielding strategy than traditional synthetic methods or isolation from plant material. However, the reconstruction of BIA pathways in microorganisms by combining heterologous enzymes can also give access to BIAs through cascade reactions. Most importantly, non‐natural BIAs can be generated through such artificial pathways. In the current study, we describe the use of tyrosinases and decarboxylases and combine these with a transaminase enzyme and norcoclaurine synthase for the efficient synthesis of several BIAs, including six non‐natural alkaloids, in cascades from l‐tyrosine and analogues.

Exceptional organic solvent tolerant ene-reductases mined from a drain metagenome library are highly versatile catalysts for difficult enones.

Transaminase enzymes have significant potential for the stereoselective synthesis of drugs or drug precursors. Here, starting from one prochiral β‐tetralone, a short and efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of four agonists of the serotonin/melatonin receptors have been developed. The key step is the stereoselective transamination of the prochiral ketone to produce both enantiomers of 8‐methoxy‐2‐aminotetraline in high yields and enantiomeric excesses. This was followed by either amidation to give the 8‐methoxy‐2‐acetimidotetralines or several facile chemical steps to the 8‐hydroxy‐2‐aminodipropyltetralines.