In this work, an enantioselective biocatalytic synthesis
of chiral
thiomorpholines using imine reductases (IREDs) is described. As substrates,
four prochiral and one chiral 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-thiazines
were synthesized in a modified Asinger reaction and subsequently reduced
using imine reductases as a biocatalyst, NADPH as a cofactor, and
a glucose dehydrogenase (GDH)-glucose cofactor regeneration system.
As a result, chiral thiomorpholines with a stereogenic center created
in 3-position were obtained under mild process conditions with high
conversions and excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99%. Furthermore,
as a proof of concept, a sequential one-pot process combining both
individual reaction steps was achieved.