Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of phenols

Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of phenol and its derivatives has been performed in aqueous organic solvents at room temperature in air. Laccase derived from Pycnoporus coccineus efficiently induced the polymerization to produce polyphenols consisting of a mixture of phenylene and oxyphenylene units. The unit ratio of the polymer could be precisely controlled by selection of the solvent and the monomer substituent.