Porphyrin-metal complexes are potentially useful to catalyze redox rea
ctions, which convert toxic and biologically recalcitrant compounds to
compounds that are less toxic and more amenable to biotreatment. Porp
hyrins, in the absence of proteins as in ligninases, peroxidases, and
oxidases, are potentially more robust than enzymes and microbial cultu
res in the treatment of inhibitory substances. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol w
as used as a model compound for chlorinated phenols and as a substrate
for various porphyrin-metal complexes acting as oxidation catalysts.
t-Butyl hydroperoxide was the oxidizing agent. TCP was shown to be at
least partially dechlorinated and the aromatic ring broken in reaction
products. All porphyrins exhibited saturation kinetics with regard to
the initial TCP concentration in reaction mixtures. Electron-withdraw
ing substituents on the porphyrins were observed to increase stability
of the catalysts to inactivating ring-centered oxidation.