Synthesis of Heterocyclic Terpenoids by Promiscuous Squalene-Hopene Cyclases

Promiscuous enzymes: The substrate promiscuity of squalene–hopene cyclases has been explored and applied in the enzyme‐catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic terpenoids. Features of this work include cyclization reactions without pyrophosphate activation, and stereospecific ring closure of substrates of varying chain length and terminal nucleophile. This provides a biocatalytic alternative to traditional chemical catalysts.