KINETICS OF PHENOLIC POLYMERIZATION CATALYZED BY PEROXIDASE IN ORGANIC MEDIA

Phenolic polymerization was carried out by enzymatic catalysis in orga nic media, and its kinetics was studied by using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Phenols and aromatic amines with electron-withd rawing groups could hardly be polymerized by HRP catalysis, but phenol s and aromatic amines with electron-donating groups could easily be po lymerized. The reaction rate of either the para-substituted substrate or meta-substituted substrate was higher than that of ortho-substitute d substrate. When ortho-position of hydroxy group of phenols was occup ied by an electron-donating group and if another electron-donating gro up occupied para-position of hydroxy group, the reaction rate increase d. Horseradish peroxidase and lactoperoxidase could easily catalyze th e polymerization, but chloroperoxidase and laccase failed to yield pol ymers. Metallic ions such as Mn2+, Fe2+, or Fe2+ and Cu2+ could poison horseradish peroxidase to various extents, but ions such as Co2+, Cd2 +, Zn2+, and K+ were not found to inhibit the reaction. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.