2-Chloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene as a mediator of lignin peroxidase catalyzed oxidations.

Poly R478, 4-methoxymandelic acid and oxalic acid were oxidized by lignin peroxidase (LiP) in the presence of the fungal metabolite 2-chloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene (2Cl-14DMB), whereas no oxidation occurred in the absence of 2Cl-14DMB. These substrates clearly inhibited the consumption of 2Cl-14DMB and the formation of 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone from 2Cl-14DMB by LiP. The results suggest that 2Cl-14DMB can replace the function of veratryl alcohol as a redox mediator in lignin peroxidase catalyzed oxidations.