Research Directions
Biocatalysis faces challenges in enzyme diversity, reaction discovery, and mechanistic insight. Our lab will harness metalloenzymes and photochemistry to enable controlled radical transformations.
Our research will bridge enzyme studies and organic synthesis. Our research creates opportunities for collaboration in chemical biology, photophysics, computational studies, and beyond.
Discovering new photoenzymes
Introducing photo energy to enzymes represents a powerful strategy to expand the enzymatic toolbox for synthetic applications. While light-driven processes play a critical role in nature, naturally occurring photoenzymes are limited in variety. We will develop novel photoactivation mechanisms with metalloenzymes. This approach aims to unlock new possibilities for light-driven biocatalysis, addressing synthetic challenges in selective radical chemistry.
Metalloenzymes for cross-coupling
Cross-coupling reactions have revolutionized the construction of carbon–carbon (C-C) and carbon–heteroatom (X/O/N/S) bonds, serving as a cornerstone of modern organic synthesis. In this project, we aim to develop cross-coupling reactions in enzymes and harness their potential to solve limitations in synthetic methods.
Enantioselective carbonylation
Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylation efficiently incorporates carbonyl groups into organic molecules using carbon monoxide (CO) as a cost-effective C1 source. Despite its widespread use, several challenges persist: (1) reliance on noble metals like Pd, Rh, and Ir; (2) limited substrates; (3) difficulty in achieving stereoselectivity; and (4) the need for high CO pressures in non-noble metal catalyzed systems. This research aims to establish biocatalytic platform for synthetic carbonylation, addressing these challenges in the field.