Selective fluorinations using proteins to scaffold new-to-Nature chemistry (2026-2028)

This project aims to solve the challenge of adding fluorine to specific positions on complex chemicals by using the unique shapes of enzyme active sites as scaffolds for catalysing powerful chemistry. It expects to solve bottlenecks in the manufacture of high value chemicals by making it possible to tailor their properties by fluorinating key positions on molecules. Expected outcomes of this project include a toolbox of biocatalysts of selective fluorination, a methodology for engineering others and an improved understanding of the ways in which protein structure shapes function. This should provide benefits such as more efficient and sustainable methods for manufacturing high value chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.