Imine Reductases

This chapter discusses imine reductase-catalysed enantioselective reductive amination for the preparation of a key intermediate to lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 inhibitor. It examines analytical method and provides conclusion for the imine reductase-catalysed enantioselective reductive amination. Imine reductases or reductive aminases are biocatalysts with huge potential in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, providing access to asymmetric reductive aminations that are difficult to achieve enantioselectively when applying conventional chemical methods. The chapter describes a method for the targeted selection of imine reductases towards a highly selective reductive amination of a prochiral ketone. It identifies a highly hindrance-tolerant imine reductase that could efficiently convert 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroisoquinoline 2 into (S)-3 with high enantioselectivity and conversion. The chapter also explains how to identify the unusual imine reductases through database mining and apply them for synthesis of C1-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines.