Radical mediated indirect oxidation of a PEG-coupled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) model compound by fungal laccase.

A high molecular model compound of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon was synthesised by coupling pyrene to PEG(5000). The pyrene-PEG was used for the study of a laccase-mediator-system. To prevent direct contact between the substrate and the enzyme the two were kept in their own compartments separated by a membrane. The low molecular mediators, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and 2, 2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), which were oxidised by laccase to the corresponding radicals or cations permeated the membrane and reacted with the pyrene-PEG model compound. Oxidation of the model compound resulted in an alpha-oxidation of the alkyl-chain leading to two main oxidation products. The same oxidation products were obtained in the reaction system without a membrane.