A biocatalytic cascade for the conversion of fatty acids to fatty amines

Abstract

Fatty amine synthesis from renewable sources is an energetically-demanding process involving toxic metal catalysts and harsh reaction conditions as well as selectivity problems. Herein we present a mild, biocatalytic alternative to the conventional amination of fatty acids through a one-pot tandem cascade performed by a carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) and a transaminase (ω-TA). Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with carbon chain lengths ranging from C₆ to C₁₈, were successfully aminated obtaining conversions of up to 96%.