Rhus laccase catalysis and product characterization of 1,2-dimethoxyphenol in organic solutions

Dimethoxyphenol was a widely used substrate in determination of laccases activity. It was surprised, however, that the products of it had not been completely determined until now. Studies were thus conducted on Rhus laccase (RL) and immobilized Rhus laccase (IRL)-catalyzed oxidation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) in water–organic solvent systems. Only one product, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diol (TMBP), was produced by RL catalysis, and it was thoroughly characterized by FT-IR, NMR and GC–MS, etc.