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Updated: May 8, 2026

Synthesis of Plant Phenol-derived Polymeric Dyes for Direct or Mordant-based Hair Dyeing
Published on: December 1, 2016
Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of phenolic compounds
Xuejiao Sun1, Rubing Bai, Ya Zhang
1Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
Abstract:
Enzymatic polymerization of phenolic compounds (catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone) was carried out using laccase. The mechanism of polymerization and the structures of the polymers were evaluated in terms of UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the produced polyphenols were determined with GPC. The results showed that the phenolic monomers firstly turned into quinone intermediates by laccase catalysis. Through further oxidation, the intermediates formed covalent bonds. Finally, catechol units were linked together with ether bonds, and both resorcinol and hydroquinone units were linked together with C-C bonds. The number-average molecular weights of the polyphenols ranged from 1,000 to 1,400 Da (corresponding to the degree of polymerization that varied from 10 to 12) with a lower polydispersity value of about 1.10, showing selective polymerization of phenolic compounds catalyzed by laccase.
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