Ene‐Reductase‐Catalyzed Aromatization of Simple Cyclohexanones to Phenols
Jie Chen, Shaofang Qi, Zhiguo Wang, Liran Hu, Jialing Liu, Guixiang Huang, Yongzhen Peng, Zheng Fang, Qi Wu, Yujing Hu, Kai Guo
Abstract
Direct aromatization of cyclohexanones to synthesize substituted phenols represents a significant challenge in modern synthetic chemistry. Herein, we describe a novel ene-reductase (TsER) catalytic system that converts substituted cyclohexanones into the corresponding phenols. This process involves the successive dehydrogenation of two saturated carbon-carbon bonds within the six-membered ring of cyclohexanones and utilizes molecular oxygen to drive the reaction cycle. It demonstrates a versatile and efficient approach for the synthesis of substituted phenols, providing a valuable complement to existing chemical methodologies.