Green oxidations with laccase–mediator systems

Laccases are oxidase enzymes produced by ‘white rot’ fungi as part of a complex armoury of redox enzymes used to break down lignin – part of the carbon cycle of nature. Laccases alone or in combination with redox co-catalysts have been shown to oxidize xenobiotic compounds under conditions that can be described as ‘green’. This paper describes some novel oxidations using the laccase–mediator method and some current limitations to the use of this technology.