Bio-Reduction

This article illustrated here describes a new method for creating molecules with a specific type of fluorine bond, which is important in pharmaceutical and materials science. The researchers used enzymes called ene-reductases (EREDs) to perform a chemical reaction that adds fluorine to organic compounds in a very precise way.
Here's a breakdown of what they did:
They started with compounds called α-fluoroenones and α-fluoroenoates, which contain fluorine and a carbon-carbon double bond.
Using EREDs, they were able to add hydrogen to these compounds, breaking the double bond and creating a new carbon-fluorine bond with a specific 3D orientation.
This process, called biocatalytic reduction, was highly efficient and produced the desired fluorine-containing compounds with excellent purity.
The method worked on a wide range of starting materials, showing its versatility.
They were able to scale up the reaction to produce larger quantities of the fluorinated compounds.
The significance of this work is that it provides a "green" and efficient way to create these valuable fluorine-containing molecules, which could be useful in developing new drugs or materials. The method avoids the need for harsh chemicals or extreme conditions, making it more environmentally friendly than traditional approaches.