Regio- and stereoselective multi-enzymatic aminohydroxylation of β-methylstyrene using dioxygen, ammonia and formate.

We report an enzymatic route for the formal regio- and stereoselective aminohydroxylation of β-methylstyrene that consumes only dioxygen, ammonia and formate; carbonate is the by-product. The biocascade entails highly selective epoxidation, hydrolysis and hydrogen-borrowing alcohol amination. Thus, β-methylstyrene was converted into 1 R ,2 R and 1 S ,2 R -phenylpropanolamine in 59-63% isolated yields, and up to >99.5: <0.5 dr and er.
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