Novel photoluminescent material by laccase-mediated polymerization of 4-fluoroguaiacol throughout defluorination

The enzymatic oxidative polymerization of 4-fluoroguaiacol (4-fluoro-2-methoxyphenol) was successfully achieved using laccase from Trametes versicolor in acetone or methanol and buffer (pH 5) mixture media with 1.5 mg mL(-1) of dissolved oxygen throughout the reaction. The novel material displayed fluorescence with emissions in blue, green and red upon applied UV-light frequencies as determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PS) on sample films. The products were fully characterized by NMR, FT-IR and MALDI-TOF analyses to demonstrate that the oxidative polymerization underwent by defluorination in a phenyl-oxy propagation. Powder X-ray diffraction spectra showed ca. 50% crystallinity and thermal analyses demonstrated high thermal resistance of the polymer, well above its melting point, which allowed for production of films by melting. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.