Nitrile as Activating Group in the Asymmetric Bioreduction of β-Cyanoacrylic Acids Catalyzed by Ene-Reductases.

Asymmetric bioreduction of an ()-β-cyano-2,4-dienoic acid derivative by ene-reductases allowed a shortened access to a precursor of pregabalin [()-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid] possessing the desired configuration in up to 94% conversion and >99% . Deuterium labelling studies showed that the nitrile moiety was the preferred activating/anchor group in the active site of the enzyme over the carboxylic acid or the corresponding methyl ester.