HRP-catalyzed polymerization of sugar-based phenols in aqueous organic solvents

HRP-catalyzed polymerization of sugar-based phenols prepared by the reaction of sugar-lactones with tyramine was carried out in a buffer (pH 7)/organic solvent (1:1, v/v) mixture. When 1,4-dioxane, DMSO and alcohols such as methanol were used as organic solvents, the conversion rate was 10–20% and the molecular weight (Mn) of polyphenols was about 2500 in all solvents. The type of sugar moiety contained in phenol derivatives had little effect on the polymerization. The conversion rate and Mn increased in the presence of a lipid such as AOT (dioctyl sulfosuccinate). Maltose-based polyphenol showed the strongest interaction with concanavalin A.