Abstract

Application of crude laccase of Xylaria polymorpha MTCC-1100 in selective oxidation of aromatic methyl group to aldehyde group

Author(s): Pankaj Kumar Chaurasia, Rama Shanker Singh Yadav, Sudha Yadava

The chemical routes of oxidation of methyl group to its aldehyde is inconvenient because once a methyl group is attacked, it is likely to be oxidized to the carboxylic acid and it is very difficult to stop the reaction at the aldehyde stage. Fungal laccases can be used for such oxidation reaction and the reaction can be completed sharply within 1-2 hrs. We have used the crude laccase obtained from the fungal strain Xylaria polymorpha MTCC-1100 for the selective biotransformations of toluene, 3-nitrotoluene and 4-chlorotoluene to benzaldehyde, 3-nitrobenzaldehyde and 4- chlorobenzaldehyde, respectively. In all cases ABTS is used as mediator molecule. Main purpose to do such transformations from crude laccase is to save the time consumed in purification process and avoid the drastic conditions. Such transformations are also environmentally safe. HPLC technique is used for comparative studies of these transformed products with their standards.