Regio- and chemo-selective polymerization of phenols catalyzed by oxidoreductase enzyme and its model complexes

Oxidative polymerizations of phenol derivatives have been performed using a n oxidoreductase enzyme and its model complexes as catalyst to produce new functional polymers. Soluble polyphenols were synthesized using peroxidase catalyst in an aqueous methanol. Enzymatic polymerization of syringic acid involved elimination of carbon dioxide and hydrogen from the monomer to giv e poly(1,4-oxyphenylone) (PPO). Tyrosinase-model complexes catalyzed highly regioselective oxidative polymerization of a 2,6-unsubstituted phenol, 4-p henoxyphenol, to produce unsubstituted PPO showing crystallinity with a mel ting point. Chemoselective polymerization of phenols having an unsaturated group took place through peroxidase catalysis, yielding crosslinkable polyp henols.