Chemoenzymatic cascade for stilbene production from cinnamic acid catalyzed by ferulic acid decarboxylase and an artificial metathease

Abstract

We report the preparation of symmetrical stilbene derivatives in a two-step one-pot cascade reaction based on enzymatic decarboxylation of cinnamic acid followed by olefin cross metathesis. Embedment of the metathesis catalyst in a protein scaffold enabled the cascade reaction to symmetric stilbenes and furthermore very efficient removal of metal impurities (<1 ppm in product fraction).