The use of biocatalyst during oxidative polymerization reactions enables the creation of unique products that are unattainable with traditional chemical oxidants. Additionally, these products can be produced in high yields under more environmentally benign conditions with facile purification techniques. In this study, we have utilized heme-based biocatalysts to produce polymers of 5,6-dimethoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid and compared them to the products obtained through traditional oxidants, like ammonium peroxydisulfate. The effects of solvent selection, pH, and rate of oxidant addition are shown to be critical determinants of the final products properties. As a results, the melanin-like products are easily tunable to produce electrically conducting or fluorescent polymers with excellent sensing capabilities. Initial fluorescent quenching studies for metal ions and several problematic environmental pollutants will be presented.

Exploration of tunable melanin-like polymers obtained through biocatalysis

256th National Meeting (2018)

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