Method for selective oxidation of substituted toluenes by microbial coprinus peroxidases

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the selective oxidation of toluene derivatives by microbial peroxidases from microorganisms of the genus Coprinus.

1 . A process for preparing aldehydes of formula (I) comprising oxidizing toluenes of formula (II) with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction mixture in the presence of a microbial peroxidase which can be isolated from a microorganism of the genus  Coprinus ,  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, F, Cl, Br, I, NO 2 , or OH, and n is 0, 1, or 2.  
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the microbial peroxidase is DSM 14525.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein R is CH 3 .  
     
     
         4 . A microbial peroxidase that can be derived from the genus  Coprinus  and is able to oxidase toluene with H 2 O 2  to form a benzaldehyde, wherein less than 0.4 mol of a benzoic is produced per mol of oxidized toluene.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein R is CH 3 .  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the microbial peroxidase has no laccase activity.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen peroxide is added continuously to the reaction mixture.  
     
     
         8 . An aldehyde prepared by the process of  claim 1  wherein R is C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, F, Cl, Br, I, NO 2 , or OH, and n is 0, 1, or 2.  
     
     
         9 . The aldehyde of  claim 8 , wherein R is CH 3 .  
     
     
         10 . The microbial peroxidase of  claim 4 , which is DSM 14525.  
     
     
         11 . The microbial peroxidase of  claim 4 , which has no laccase activity.