Enzymatic Fluoromethylation Enabled by the S-Adenosylmethionine Analog Te- Adenosyl-L-(fluoromethyl)homotellurocysteine

Fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, and trifluoromethyl groups are present in numerous pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, where they play critical roles in the efficacy and metabolic stability of these molecules. Strategies for late-stage incorporation of fluorine-containing atoms in molecules have become an important area of organic and medicinal chemistry as well as synthetic biology. Herein, we describe the synthesis and use of Te-adenosyl-L-(fluoromethyl)homotellurocysteine (FMeTeSAM), a novel and biologically relevant fluoromethylating agent. FMeTeSAM is structurally and chemically related to the universal cellular methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and supports the robust transfer of fluoromethyl groups to oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and some carbon nucleophiles. FMeTeSAM is also used to fluoromethylate precursors to oxaline and daunorubicin, two complex natural products that exhibit antitumor properties.

Automated summary

Fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, and trifluoromethyl groups are important in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals for their roles in efficacy and metabolic stability. Late-stage incorporation of fluorine-containing atoms in molecules has become a significant field in organic and medicinal chemistry, as well as synthetic biology. This study presents a novel fluoromethylating agent, FMeTeSAM, which is structurally and chemically similar to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and supports efficient transfer of fluoromethyl groups to oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and some carbon nucleophiles. FMeTeSAM is also applied in the fluoromethylation of precursors to oxaline and daunorubicin, two natural products with antitumor properties.