Print Email Facebook Twitter Aromatic hydroxylation of substituted benzenes by an unspecific peroxygenase from Aspergillus brasiliensis Title Aromatic hydroxylation of substituted benzenes by an unspecific peroxygenase from Aspergillus brasiliensis Author Schmitz, Fabian (Universität Düsseldorf) Koschorreck, Katja (Universität Düsseldorf) Hollmann, F. (TU Delft BT/Biocatalysis) Urlacher, Vlada B. (Universität Düsseldorf) Date 2023 Abstract Selective aromatic hydroxylation of substituted benzenes provides access to versatile phenolic synthons. Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) have been recognised as promising biocatalysts for synthetic chemistry. While UPOs accept diverse substrates and enable a broad range of oxygenation reactions, aromatic hydroxylation reactions catalysed by these enzymes have been rarely described. Here, we report on a UPO from Aspergillus brasiliensis (AbrUPO) heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris at a concentration of 742 mg per litre that is able to catalyse aromatic hydroxylation of substituted benzenes. The preference of AbrUPO for aromatic or benzylic hydroxylation was found to depend on the number, chemical properties and length of existing ring substituents. While oxidation of ethylbenzene gave ring- and side-chain hydroxylation products at a 1 : 1 ratio, increasing the chain-length of the alkyl substituent enhanced the preference for benzylic hydroxylation. With the para-disubstituted p-cymene as a substrate, the chemoselectivity of AbrUPO strongly shifted towards aromatic hydroxylation. All tested substituted phenols resulted in exclusive aromatic hydroxylation. The observed formation of low quantities of quinones was attributed to the inherent peroxidase activity, while further oxidation of benzylic alcohols to ketones was suggested to occur due to both peroxidase and peroxygenase activity of AbrUPO. ‘Overoxidation’ due to peroxidase activity could be completely avoided by adding ascorbic acid and shortening reaction time. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:3b466b9b-523d-4b97-9bf1-9d5c34fcb84c DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/d3re00209h ISSN 2058-9883 Source Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 8 (9), 2177-2186 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2023 Fabian Schmitz, Katja Koschorreck, F. Hollmann, Vlada B. Urlacher Files PDF d3re00209h.pdf 1.27 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:3b466b9b-523d-4b97-9bf1-9d5c34fcb84c/datastream/OBJ/view