Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.36, No.14, 2593-2600, 1998
Oxidative polymerization of phenylenediamines catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase
Ortho-, meta-, and para-phenylenediamines were polymerized using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and horseradish peroxidase as a catalyst in mixed solvents of 1,4-dioxane and water. The yield of the polymers was strongly dependent on solvent composition, and maximum yields were obtained at 15-30% 1,4-dioxane. The analysis of circular dichroic spectra of the enzyme suggested that enzyme structure was significantly modified at high 1,4-dioxane contents, which may be responsible for the decrease of catalytic activity of the enzyme. On the basis of IR and electronic spectra of the polymers, it was considered that o- and p-phenylenediamine polymers retain disubstituted benzene nuclei, which suggests that the polymerization proceeded mainly via N-N coupling.
Keywords:REVERSED MICELLAR SYSTEMS, ENZYMATIC-SYNTHESIS, SOLUBLEPOLYANILINE, ORGANIC-SOLVENTS, POLY(O-PHENYLENEDIAMINE);FAMILY, MEDIA