The integration of electrochemistry with enzymes has primarily been limited to replicating previously established enzyme functions. A breakthrough by Xiaoqiang Huang’s research group at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, now transcends this limitation. By repurposing thiamine-dependent enzymes through ferrocene-mediated electrocatalysis, the team has unlocked a previously inaccessible dynamic kinetic oxidation of α-branched aldehydes. This robust electroenzymatic approach yields various bioactive (S)-profens with up to 99% enantiomeric excess, is applicable with whole cells overexpressing the enzyme and using down to 0.05 mol% enzyme loadings. Published online in Nature under the title "Electricity-driven enzymatic dynamic kinetic oxidation". This work opens up a new direction for asymmetric electroenzymatic catalysis.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09178-6