A one-pot two-step synthesis of tertiary alcohols combining the biocatalytic laccase/TEMPO oxidation system with organolithium reagents in aerobic aqueous media at room temperature

Chem Commun (Camb). 2021 Dec 14;57(99):13534-13537. doi: 10.1039/d1cc06460f.

Abstract

The one-pot/two-step combination of enzymes and polar organometallic chemistry in aqueous media is for the first time presented as a proof-of-concept study. The unprecedented combination of the catalytic oxidation of secondary alcohols by the system laccase/TEMPO with the ultrafast addition (3 s reaction time) of polar organometallic reagents (RLi/RMgX) to the in situ formed ketones, run under air at room temperature, allows the straightforward and chemoselective synthesis of tertiary alcohols with broad substrate scope and excellent conversions (up to 96%).