Streamlined cofactor recycling with formate for chemo-enzymatic synthesis

Abstract

Herein, we develop a COF‑OH‑Rh catalyst that enables formate‑driven NADH regeneration. The hydrogen-radical pathway drives NADH regeneration more efficiently than the classical hydride-transfer route, achieving a higher yield of 87% vs. 49% within 30 minutes. When coupled with immobilized glutamate dehydrogenase, the integrated system produces 14 mM L-glutamate in 8 hours, matching the performance of state-of-the-art chemo‑enzymatic systems.