Mike X Chen

US Patent:

20160108436, Apr 21, 2016

Filed:

Sep 3, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/845212

Inventors:

- Santa Monica CA, US
Mike M.Y. Chen - Santa Monica CA, US
Peter Meinhold - Santa Monica CA, US
Catherine Mee-Hie Cho - Santa Monica CA, US
Vu Bui - Santa Monica CA, US
Thomas Heel - Santa Monica CA, US

Assignee:

Provivi, Inc. - Santa Monica CA

International Classification:

C12P 7/04
C07C 67/14
C07C 51/235
C07C 45/29

Abstract:

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.