title: Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of phenolic compounds.
abstract: Enzymatic polymerization of phenolic compounds (catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone) was carried out using laccase. The mechanism of polymerization and the structures of the polymers were evaluated in terms of UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the produced polyphenols were determined with GPC. The results showed that the phenolic monomers firstly turned into quinone intermediates by laccase catalysis. Through further oxidation, the intermediates formed covalent bonds. Finally, catechol units were linked together with ether bonds, and both resorcinol and hydroquinone units were linked together with C-C bonds. The number-average molecular weights of the polyphenols ranged from 1,000 to 1,400 Da (corresponding to the degree of polymerization that varied from 10 to 12) with a lower polydispersity value of about 1.10, showing selective polymerization of phenolic compounds catalyzed by laccase.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
authors.forename: Xuejiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Rubing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuerong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jiugang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000201:enzymology; D055162:Biocatalysis; D042845:Laccase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D059808:Polyphenols; D019800:Phenol; D042845:Laccase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase