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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Microwave-assisted Intramolecular Dehydrogenative Diels-Alder Reactions for the Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthalenes/Solvatochromic Dyes
Published on: April 1, 2013
p-hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by naphthalene dioxygenase
1Department of Microbiology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyongnam, Korea. kyounglee@changwon.ac.kr
Abstract:
In this study, naphthalene dioxygenase is shown to catalyze the oxidation of methylphenols and chlorophenols by p- and/or o-hydroxylation reactions. For instance, m-cresol was oxidized to methylhydroquinone with formation of 3- and 4-methylcatechol as minor products. 2-Chlorophenol was exclusively oxidized to chlorohydroquinone, which is an important building block for pharmaceutical products and other organic compounds. The oxygen incorporated in the p-hydroxylation reaction from m-cresol is derived from water with consumption of O2.
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