Polymerization of p-cresol

Peroxidase-Catalyzed Polymerization of p-Cresol. Large scale polymerizations were carried out in a volume of 250 mL in a 500 mL round bottom flask at 25°C with stirring at ca. 250 rpm. p-Cresol (688 mg, 25 mM) was dissolved in 213 mL dioxane and 37 mL aqueous buffer, pH 7 (0.01 M phosphate) added to give a solution consisting of 85% (v/v) dioxane. Horseradish peroxidase (25 mg, free powder) was added and the reaction was initiated by the addition of 0.28 mL of 30% H2O2 (10 mM). The suspension (peroxidase is insoluble in 85% dioxane) immediately turned yellow and the reaction was allowed to proceed 15 min. The concentrations of p-cresol and reaction products were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Ci8-reverse phase column (Waters Associates, Milford, MA). The isocratic solvent used was acetonitrile water (56 44) with... 

Peroxidase-catalyzed grafting of polyphenols on lignin has been attempted by HRP-catalyzed polymerization of p-cresol with lignin in the aqueous 1,4-dioxane or reverse micellar system. (288-290). The monomer was incorporated into lignin by the oxidative coupling between the monomer and the phenolic moiety of lignin. 

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