Chemoenzymatic synthesis of <i>N</i>-phenyl glycine derivatives via integration of Au/TiO₂ and enzyme as catalysts in water

Herein, we have developed a chemoenzymatic approach for the synthesis of <i>N</i>-phenyl glycine derivatives involving gold-catalyzed reduction of nitrophenol and engineered myoglobin-catalyzed chemoselective carbene insertion into the N–H bond over the O–H bond with alkyl diazo acetates using water as a solvent. In addition, the generality and synthetic utility of this chemoenzymatic approach was demonstrated by setting up the scale-up reactions of differently substituted nitroarenes and diazo compounds which in turn provides the N-phenyl glycine derivatives up to 85% isolated yields.