Nuclear amination catalyzed by fungal laccases: Comparison of laccase catalyzed amination with known chemical routes to aminoquinones

Laccases are able to initiate nuclear amination of p-hydroquinones with primary aromatic amines, resulting in the formation of the corresponding monoaminated and diaminated quinones. Two laccase catalyzed reactions are compared with established synthetic routes to aminoquinones, showing that formation of products from laccase catalyzed reaction is comparable with reaction using sodium iodate as oxidant. Advantages and disadvantages of laccase catalyzed amination are discussed. It is concluded that laccase catalysis is less suitable than sodium iodate oxidation for the amination of simple p-hydroquinones with simple amines.