Oxidation of phenylpyruvic acid

Mn2+ catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of phenylpyruvic acid. Benzaldehyde and oxalate are the major products, the former being generated to some extent in an excited state, as indicated by chlorophyll-sensitized emission. Both oxygen consumption and emission are enhanced by addition of horseradish peroxidase. In the presence of the enzyme, halogen-containing xanthene dyes also sensitize the emission. From the values of the benzaldehyde/oxalate product ratio, it is inferred that two oxidation pathways are operative. One of these proceeds via a dioxetane intermediate and is responsible for the excited benzaldehyde; the other, which involves an alpha-keto-beta-peroxylactone, does not produce oxalate. The enzyme appears to favour the dioxetane route. The relative importance of these routes in biological systems is discussed.