Enzyme-initiated domino (cascade) reactions

Abstract

Domino or cascade reactions involve the transformation of materials through several inseparable steps, which often proceed via highly reactive intermediates. In the case where the reaction sequence is triggered by a biocatalyst, such as an enzyme, the cascade may proceed in a highly chemo- or stereoselective way. In this review, emphasis is laid on biocatalyzed domino reactions of non-natural compounds (rather than natural substrates) which have been aptly denoted as ‘enzyme-initiated’ (or -‘triggered’) domino (or cascade) reactions. Biosynthetic pathways involving biological cascade reactions are out of the scope of this review (see, for example, D. E. Cane, Chem. Rev., 1990, 90, 1089).