Peroxidase-based oxidative polymerization of monolignols

Oxidative polymerization of the monolignols (sinapyl alcohol [SA] and coniferyl alcohol [CA]) has been performed using enzyme-based biocatalysts. The oxidation of SA, CA, or an SA/CA mixture has been carried out using peroxidase enzyme assisted H2O2/t-BHP (oxidation reagent). The reaction provided radicals with high reactivity, in turn yielding a variety of polymeric structures. The efficiency of the oxidative polymerization system has been evaluated in terms of substrate conversion. Also, the polymeric products were characterized with the gel permeation chromatography technique (GPC). Accordingly, optimum experimental parameters have been set up (e.g. temperature, type of peroxidase enzyme, and oxidation reagent). Under optimum conditions, a maximum of 90% of the SA was transformed to polymeric products with MW = 3188 Da, Mn = 1115 Da, and PD = 2.8. (C) 2017 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.