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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Production of Hydroxy Acids: Selective Double Oxidation of Diols by Flavoprotein Alcohol Oxidase
Caterina Martin1, Milos Trajkovic1, Marco W Fraaije1
1Molecular Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Flavoprotein oxidases can catalyze oxidations of alcohols and amines by merely using molecular oxygen as the oxidant, making this class of enzymes appealing for biocatalysis. The FAD-containing (FAD=flavin adenine dinucleotide) alcohol oxidase from P. chrysosporium facilitated double and triple oxidations for a range of aliphatic diols. Interestingly, depending on the diol substrate, these reactions result in formation of either lactones or hydroxy acids. For example, diethylene glycol could be selectively and fully converted into 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)acetic acid. Such a facile cofactor-independent biocatalytic route towards hydroxy acids opens up new avenues for the preparation of polyester building blocks.
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