Dicopper complexes as oxidase catalysts immobilized on polystyrene and polyacrylic beads

Abstract

The simple dicopper(II) complexes FSAL(Glu) 2Cu 2OH·2H 2O and FSAL(Lys) 2Cu 2·2HCl·2H 2O, previously used as oxidase catalysts, were anchored to polystyrene and oxirane acrylic beads. The ability of the immobilized dicopper-bead complexes to catalyze the oxidation of catechol was measured and their catalytic activities were compared with those of the simple dicopper complexes used as homogeneous catalysts. The catecholase activities of the dicopper bead complexes, although found to be reasonably high, were less than the activities of the simple dicopper complexes.