Engineering practical cyclopropanation biocatalysts

The surprising discovery that heme enzymes can catalyze carbene and nitrene transfer reactions has provided chemists with a new biocatalytic alternative for cyclopropanation and other related reactions. Key to the success of this reaction is the engineering of enzymes to increase both the rate and the stereoselectivity of the reaction. We will report recent progress in developing highly selective cyclopropanation biocatalysts for producing important chiral intermediates for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry.