Green oxidations with laccase-mediator systems

Laccases are oxidase enzymes produced by 'white rot' fungi as part of a complex armoury of redox enzymes used to break down lignin - part of the carbon cycle of nature. Laccases alone or in combination with redox co-catalysts have been shown to oxidize xenobiotic compounds under conditions that can be described as 'green'. This paper describes some novel oxidations using the laccase-mediator method and some current limitations to the use of this technology.