Regiospecific C-H Amination of (─)-Limonene into (─)-Perillamine by Multi-enzymatic Cascade Reactions

Abstract Background (−)-Limonene, one of cyclic monoterpenes, is an important renewable compound used widely as a key building block for the synthesis of new biologically active molecules and fine chemicals. (−)-Perillamine, as derived from (−)-limonene, is such a useful synthon for constructing more complicated and functionally relevant chemicals. Aim We aimed to report a more sustainable and more efficient method for the regiospecific C-H amination of (−)-limonene into (−)-perillamine. Results Here we report an artificial penta-enzymatic cascade system for the transformation of the cheap and easily available (−)-limonene into (−)-perillamine for the first time. This system is composed of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and w-transaminase for the main reactions, as well as formate dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase for cofactor recycling. After optimization of the multi-enzymatic cascade system, 10 mM (−)-limonene was smoothly converted into 5.4 mM (−)-perillamine in a one-pot-two-step biotransformation, indicating the feasibility of multi-enzymatic C7-regiospecific amination of the inert C-H bond of (−)-limonene. This method represents a concise and efficient route for the biocatalytic synthesis of derivatives from similar natural products.