Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Visible light photocatalysis, which exploits the reactivity of molecules at their excited state, has triggered a paradigm shift in organic synthesis by enabling some very unique chemical transformations. Yet, achieving precise control of the enantioselectivity in such processes remains a major challenge. A promising strategy involves linking a synthetic transition metal photocatalyst within the chiral architecture of a biomolecule to create a highly selective artificial metallo-photoenzyme. However, such an artificial metalloenzyme that integrates the merits of biocatalysis and photocatalysis to promote abiological reactions with high enantioselectivity is still unknown. Here, we report an artificial metallo-photoDNAzyme resulting from the covalent anchoring of a visible light-absorbing iridium-based photocatalyst within a double-stranded (ds)DNA helix, exhibiting efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer and high levels of enantioselectivity in [2 + 2] intramolecular cycloadditions.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, University of Trento, Queen Mary University of London, University of Milan, Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W4411066630