Nuclear Amination Catalyzed by Fungal Laccases: Reaction Products of p-Hydroquinones and Primary Aromatic Amines

[reaction: see text] Nuclear amination of p-hydroquinones with primary aromatic amines was catalyzed by fungal laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) from Trametes spec. and Myceliophthora thermophila. This is the first report of laccase-catalyzed synthesis of aminoquinones. Incubation of two compounds with laccase in the presence of oxygen resulted in the formation of the corresponding monoaminated or diaminated quinones. No hydroquinonoids were formed. Observed differences in the reaction courses for different p-hydroquinones and aromatic amines with different laccases are discussed.