Transaminase-catalyzed continuous synthesis of biogenic aldehydes

The physiological role of biogenic aldehydes, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), has been associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. The availability of these substrates is limited and robust synthetic methodologies would greatly facilitate further biological studies. Herein, a transaminase-mediated single-step process in continuous mode, which leads to excellent product yields (90-95 %), is reported. Coimmobilization of the pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) cofactor eliminated the need for exogenous addition of this reagent without affecting the longevity of the system, delivering a truly self-sufficient process.