Laccase-mediated polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT)

The oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) has been carried out using laccase-mediator system. High redox potential laccase isolated from fungi Trametes hirsuta catalyzed the reaction of EDOT oxidation. In this reaction laccase used atmospheric oxygen as the terminal oxidant. Potassium octocyanomolybdate(4+) served as high potential redox mediator. The increase in the rate of EDOT oxidation occurs due to laccase catalysis of octocyanomolybdate(4+) ion to octocyanomolybdate(5+). A template method synthesis of EDOT oligomers with poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic) acid (PAMPS) was used. The water dispersible oligoEDOT/PAMPS complex was characterized by UV–vis, Fourier transformed infrared spectra and transmission electron microscopy.