Laccase-mediated biotransformation of dihydroquercetin (taxifolin)

• A laccase from the basidial fungus Trametes hirsuta has been used for the first time as a catalyst in dihydroquercitin (DHQ) oxidative polymerization.
• The enzymatic polymerization starts with the oxidation of the hydroxyl group in ring C of DHQ.
• The oligomers have the number average molecular weight of 1000 g/mol and the polydispersity index of 1.4.

A laccase (LC) from the basidial fungus Trametes hirsuta has been used for the first time as a catalyst in dihydroquercetin (DHQ) oxidative polymerization. The conditions selected enabled good yields of DHQ oligomers, which were then analyzed using UV–vis, FTIR, 1Н and 13С NMR spectroscopy. It was shown that the first stage of LC-mediated oxidation of DHQ is the removal of hydrogen from 3-OH group and formation of an alkoxy radical, which substitutes hydrogens mainly in positions C2′, C5′ and C6′. The oligomers have the number average molecular weight of 1000 g/mol and the polydispersity index of 1.4.

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