Xanthine oxidase-catalysed oxidation of paracetamol

Paracetamol was polymerized in a reaction mixture containing xanthine oxidase, xanthine and paracetamol. This polymerization reaction was not inhibited by allopurinol or KCN, indicating that neither the molybdenum sites nor the iron-sulphur centres of the enzyme were involved in this catalytic activity. Removal of the flavin centres from the enzyme, however, completely abolished paracetamol oxidation. Spectroscopic measurements suggested that in the simultaneous presence of both paracetamol and H2O2 a peroxyflavin intermediate was formed, which is presumably responsible for the paracetamol polymerization reaction.