Enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction using acylase from Aspergillus melleus

•Acylase I from A melleus showed catalytic promiscuity in asymmetric Mannich reaction.•It displayed good adaptability to different substrates.•The selectivities up to 89% ee, 90:10 dr and yields up to 82% were obtained.•This work offered a novel case of enzyme catalytic promiscuity.

Acylase I from Aspergillus melleus (AMA) displayed catalytic promiscuity towards one-pot asymmetric Mannich reaction in acetonitrile for the first time. AMA showed favourable catalytic activity with good adaptability to different substrates. The activity and stereoselectivity of the enzyme could be improved by adjusting solvent, pH, water content, temperature, molar ratio of substrates and enzyme loading. The enantioselectivities up to 89% ee, diastereoselectivities up to 90:10 dr (syn/anti) and yields up to 82% were achieved. This work offered a novel case of enzyme catalytic promiscuity and a potential synthetic method for organic chemistry.

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