Oxoammonium Cation Research Articles

Mechanism of Laccase–TEMPO‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

AbstractThe oxidation of benzyl alcohol by air, catalyzed by the organocatalyst TEMPO and the enzyme laccase has been investigated. To establish the kinetically significant pathways and corresponding kinetic parameters, a series of experiments is conducted with synthesized stable oxidized and reduced forms of the organocatalyst, the oxoammonium cation, and hydroxylamine. The time course of TEMPO and its oxidized and reduced derivatives is monitored off line by a combination of GC analysis, UV/Vis spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. TEMPO is found to be regenerated through noncatalyzed comproportionation of the oxoammonium cation with hydroxylamine. A kinetic model is presented based on the experimentally determined kinetically significant pathways. The time dependences of the concentrations of the three redox states of TEMPO and benzyl alcohol are adequately described by the model. The results provide new leads for the development of a practical process for a combined laccase–TEMPO‐catalyzed selective oxidation of alcohols.

Synergistic induction of apoptosis and caspase-independent autophagic cell death by a combination of nitroxide Tempo and heat shock in human leukemia U937 cells

We have shown that heat stress or a superoxide dismutase mimic nitroxide, Tempo, induces apoptosis, while their combination causes nonapoptotic cell death; however, the underlying mechanism for this switch remains unclear. Here we identified for the first time that 10mM Tempo present during heating at 44°C for 30min rapidly induced autophagy in U937 leukemic cells in spite of Bax activation and mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) permeabilization. This co-treatment inhibited the processing of heat-activated procaspases-2, -8, -9 and -3 into active small subunits, leading to the inhibition of caspase-dependent apoptosis, and instead caused the induction of autophagy. The inactivation of caspases, a key event, could result from oxidation of active-site-CysSH of all caspases by a prooxidant oxo-ammonium cation, an intermediate derived Tempo during dismutation of heat-induced superoxide anion. In addition, the co-treatment caused mitochondrial calcium overloads, the mitochondrial inner membrane permeabilization, profound mitochondrial dysfunction, and liberation of Beclin 1 from the Bcl-2/Beclin 1 complex, all of which contributed to induction of autophagy. These autophagic cells underwent propidium iodide-positive necrosis in a delayed fashion, leading to the complete proliferative inhibition. Remarkably, ruthenium red and BAPTA, which interfere with mitochondrial calcium uptake, facilitated autophagic necrotic death. Cyclosporin A, which binds to cyclophilin D, had a similar necrotic effect. 3-Methyladenine facilitated the necrosis of autophagic cells. In contrast, 5mM Tempo-44°C/10min or 44°C/30min induced Bax-mediated MOM permeabilization and caspase-dependent apoptosis more potently than Tempo alone. Thus, Tempo is a unique thermosensitizer to synergistically induce apoptosis and autophagic cell death.

On the Distinction between Nitroxyl and Nitric Oxide Using Nitronyl Nitroxides

A better understanding of the origins of NO and HNO and their activities and biological functions requires accurate methods for their detection and quantification. The unique reaction of NO with nitronyl nitroxides such as 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (C-PTIO), which yields the corresponding imino nitroxides, is widely used for NO detection (mainly by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and for modulation of NO-induced physiological functions. The present study demonstrates that HNO readily reacts with nitronyl nitroxides, leading to the formation of the respective imino nitroxides and hydroxylamines via a complex mechanism. Through the use of the HNO donor Angeli's salt (AS) with metmyoglobin as a competing agent, the rate constant for C-PTIO reduction by HNO has been determined to be (1.4 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.0. This reaction yields the corresponding nitronyl hydroxylamine C-PTIO-H and NO, which is trapped by C-PTIO to form (*)NO(2) and the corresponding imino nitroxide, C-PTI. (*)NO(2) oxidizes the nitronyl and imino nitroxides to their respective oxoammonium cations, which decay mainly via comproportionation with the nitronyl and imino hydroxylamines. When [AS] > [C-PTIO], the reduction of C-PTI by HNO proceeds, eventually converting C-PTIO to the corresponding imino hydroxylamine, C-PTI-H. Similar results were obtained for 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO). It is concluded that nitronyl nitroxide is readily reduced by HNO to nitronyl hydroxylamine and is eventually converted into imino nitroxide and imino hydroxylamine. The yield of the imino hydroxylamine increases at the expense of the imino nitroxide as the ratio [AS](0)/[nitronyl nitroxide](0) is increased. Since the reaction of NO with nitronyl nitroxide yields only the corresponding imino nitroxide, nitronyl nitroxide can discriminate NO from HNO only when present at a concentration much lower than the total production of HNO.

Synthesis of A Novel Spirobisnitroxide Polymer and its Evaluation in an Organic Radical Battery

A straightforward synthesis of a novel spirobisnitroxide 6 has been developed. Cyclovoltammetry of 6 revealed two distinct reversible oxidation/reduction steps separated by ca. 740 mV indicating the formation of the corresponding oxoammonium cations. Rhodium-catalyzed polymerization of 6 afforded the polyacetylene polymer 7 bearing the pending spirobisnitroxide groups. Additionally, cross-linked 7 was prepared in the presence of 3 mol % of N,N′-diprop-2-ynyl-oxalamide. If oxidation of both nitroxide groups is considered, 7 possesses an unprecedented high theoretical charge capacity of 174 mA h g−1. Evaluation of the cross-linked polymer 7 as a cathode material for an organic radical battery showed very good cycling stability when the potential was kept below the oxidation potential of the five-membered nitroxide subunit of 6. A presumable irreversible degradation of the polymeric backbone of 7 occurred at higher potentials, limiting the experimentally obtained charge capacity to 73 mA h g−1.

Spin Scavenging Analysis of Myoglobin Protein-Centered Radicals Using Stable Nitroxide Radicals: Characterization of Oxoammonium Cation-Induced Modifications

Spin scavenging combined with chromatographic and mass spectrometric procedures can, in principle, be employed to detect and identify protein-based radicals within complex biological matrices. This approach is based on the well-known ability of stable synthetic nitroxide radicals to scavenge carbon-centered radicals, forming stable diamagnetic addition products. Hence, characterization of these addition products would allow for the identification of specific free radicals. In the present work, we have explored the use of the stable nitroxide radical 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL) in scavenging protein-based radicals generated in a horse heart metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide (metMb/H(2)O(2)) system. Inclusion of a substoichiometric amount of TEMPOL in the metMb/H(2)O(2) system resulted in a complete loss of peroxyl and tyrosyl radical signals and effectively inhibited the formation of oxidatively damaged heme species, as monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance and reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Scavenging of globin radicals by TEMPOL did not lead to the formation of stable diamagnetic addition adducts; in fact, reversed-phase liquid chromatographic studies and oxygen electrode measurements indicated that TEMPOL acts as a catalyst and is recycled in this system. The oxoammonium cation generated in the course of this reaction initiated secondary reactions resulting in the formation of a free carbonyl on the N-terminal Gly-residue of the protein. This oxidative deamination was confirmed through the combined use of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic purification, tandem MS experiments, and chemical analysis (e.g., by use of 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine). The results reveal the pitfalls inherent in using stable nitroxide radicals such as TEMPOL to identify sites of radical formation on hemoproteins.

Photooxidation of alcohols by a porphyrin/quinone/TEMPO system

Photooxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes with a porphyrin/quinone/TEMPO (TEMPO=2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical) system is described. This photoreaction is a combination of a photoinduced electron transfer from the porphyrin to the quinone and a TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols triggered by one electron oxidation. The rates of oxidation were in the order of benzylic approximately allylic>primary>>secondary, which is consistent with the intermediacy of the oxoammonium cation derived from TEMPO. Examination of the initial rates suggested that the reaction proceeded via the triplet excited state of the zinc porphyrin. The dependence of initial rates on the oxidation potentials of the porphyrin showed a characteristic bell shape, which is caused by two competitive factors, the efficiency of photoinduced electron transfer and the equilibrium of electron exchange between the porphyrin cation radical and TEMPO. The potential significance of this reaction in photosynthetic model chemistry is briefly discussed.

Electrochemical behaviour of gold modified with contaminated TMP amine adlayers studied by STM, CV, EPR

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) were used to investigate the influence of the TMP amine derivative on Au (1 1 1). The STM results show that the gold surface covered by the adlayer of the TMP derivative is easily modified (holes formation) after increasing the bias voltage to 0.5 V. The CV and EPR results show the electrochemical origin of observed STM topography changes. It is suggested that TMP could be oxidized to the nitroxyl TEMPO radical which adsorbs on Au in the form of an oxoammonium cation. Such an oxoammonium cation at the potential of 0.5 V forms a permanent complex of gold and the nitroxyl radical which could be easily desorbed during STM imaging.

Kinetics of the Reaction between Nitroxide and Thiyl Radicals: Nitroxides as Antioxidants in the Presence of Thiols

Cyclic nitroxides effectively protect cells, tissues, isolated organs, and laboratory animals from radical-induced damage. The present study focuses on the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of piperidine and pyrrolidine nitroxides with thiyl radicals, which are involved in free radical "repair" equilibria, but being strong oxidants can also produce cell damage. Thiyl radicals derived from glutathione, cysteine, and penicillamine were generated in water by pulse radiolysis, and the rate constants of their reactions with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TPO), 4-OH-TPO, and 3-carbamoyl-proxyl were determined to be (5-7) x 10 (8) M (-1) s (-1) at pH 5-7, independent of the structure of the nitroxide and the thiyl radical. It is suggested that the reaction of nitroxide (>NO (*)) with thiyl radical (RS (*)) yields an unstable adduct (>NOSR). The deprotonated form of this adduct decomposes via heterolysis of the N-O bond, yielding the respective amine (>NH) and sulfinic acid (RS(O)OH). The protonated form of the adduct decomposes via homolysis of the N-O bond, forming the aminium radical (>NH (*+)) and sulfinyl radical (RSO (*)), which by subsequent reactions involving thiol and nitroxide produce the respective amine and sulfonic acid (RS(O) 2OH). Nitroxides that are oxidized to the respective oxoammonium cations (>N (+)O) are recovered in the presence of NADH but not in the presence of thiols. This suggests that the reaction of >N (+)O with thiols yields the respective amine. Two alternative mechanisms are suggested, where >N (+)O reacts with thiolate (RS (-)) directly generating the adduct >NOSR or indirectly forming >NO (*) and RS (*), which subsequently together yield the adduct >NOSR. Under physiological conditions the adduct is mainly deprotonated, and therefore nitroxides can detoxify thiyl radicals. The proposed mechanism can account for the protective effect of nitroxides against reactive oxygen- and nitrogen-derived species in the presence of thiols.

A Functional Organic Battery

An organic battery was constructed using polymer P1, which contains a high density of pendant nitroxide radical functional groups. The reversible electrochemical formation of the oxoammonium cation from a nitroxide radical forms the basis of charge storage in this battery. To avoid dissolving the polymer in an electrolyte solution while fabricating the battery, a radical-compatible photocrosslinking strategy was developed using a bisazide photocrosslinker. Using this strategy, cathode-active films of P1 were produced and the resulting battery could be reversibly charged and discharged for up to 1000 cycles.

Structural Implication of Oxoammonium Cations for Reversible Organic One-electron Redox Reaction to Nitroxide Radicals

Abstract Structures and electrochemical behaviors of nitroxide radicals reveal that their rapid and reversible redox reactions are based not only on their chemical stability but also on the increased sp2 character of nitrogens which is intermediate between the purely sp2 and sp3 nitrogens in oxoammonium cations and amines, respectively.

Mechanism of the Oxidation of Alcohols by Oxoammonium Cations

The mechanism of the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols by the oxoammonium cation derived from 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) has been investigated computationally at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level, along with free energies of solvation, using a reaction field model. In basic solution, the reaction involves formation of a complex between the alkoxide anion and the oxoammonium cation in a pre-oxidation equilibrium wherein methoxide leads to a much larger formation constant than isopropoxide. The differences in free energy of activation for the rate-determining hydrogen transfer within the pre-oxidation complexes were small; the differences in complex formation constants lead to a larger rate of reaction for the primary alcohol, as is observed experimentally. In acidic solution, rate-determining hydrogen atom transfer from the alcohol to the oxoammonium cation had a large unfavorable free energy change and would proceed more slowly than is observed. A more likely path involves a hydride transfer that would be more rapid with a secondary alcohol than primary, as is observed. Transition states for this process were located.

Cathode- and Anode-Active Poly(nitroxylstyrene)s for Rechargeable Batteries: p- and n-Type Redox Switching via Substituent Effects

Three polystyrenes bearing redox-active nitroxide radical(s) in each repeating unit, poly[4-(N-tert-butyl-N-oxylamino)styrene] (1), poly[3,5-di(N-tert-butyl-N-oxylamino)styrene] (2), and poly[4-(N-tert-butyl-N-oxylamino)-3-trifluoromethylstyrene] (3), were synthesized via free radical polymerization of protected precursor styrenic derivatives and subsequent chemical oxidation. The radicals in these polymers were robust at ambient conditions, and the polymers possessed radical densities of 2.97 × 1021, 4.27 × 1021, and 1.82 × 1021 unpaired electrons/g for 1−3, respectively, resulting in an electrode-active material with a high charge/discharge capacity. Particularly, the dinitroxide functional polymer 2 possessed the highest radical density. Cyclic voltammetry of the poly(nitroxylstyrene) 1 revealed a reversible redox at 0.74 V vs Ag/AgCl, which was assigned to the oxidation of the nitroxide radical to form the oxoammonium cation (p-type doped state). On the other hand, the poly(nitroxylstyrene) ortho-subs...

Ene‐Like Addition of an Oxoammonium Cation to Alkenes: Highly Selective Route to Allylic Alkoxyamines.

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Kinetics and Mechanism of Peroxyl Radical Reactions with Nitroxides

Cyclic nitroxides (>NO*) are stable radicals of diverse size, charge, lipophilicility, and cell permeability, which provide protection against oxidative stress via various mechanisms including SOD-mimic activity, oxidation of reduced transition metals and detoxification of oxygen- and nitrogen-centered radicals. However, there is no agreement regarding the reaction of nitroxides with peroxyl radicals, and many controversies in the literature exist. The question of whether nitroxides can protect by scavenging peroxyl radicals is important because peroxyl radicals are formed in biological systems. To further elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying the antioxidative effects of nitroxides, we studied by pulse radiolysis the reaction kinetics of piperidine, pyrrolidine, and oxazolidine nitroxides with several alkyl peroxyl radicals. It is demonstrated that nitroxides mainly reduce alkyl peroxyl radicals forming the respective oxoammonium cations (>N+=O). The most efficient scavenger of peroxyl radicals is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TPO), which has the lowest oxidation potential among the nitroxides tested in the present study. The rate constants of peroxyl reduction are in the order CH2(OH)OO*>CH3OO*>t-BuOO*, which correlate with the oxidation potential of these peroxyl radicals. The rate constants for TPO vary between 2.8x10(7) and 1.0x10(8) M-1 s-1 and for 3-carbamoylproxyl (3-CP) between 8.1x10(5) and 9.0x10(6) M-1 s-1. The efficacy of protection of nitroxides against inactivation of glucose oxidase caused by peroxyl radicals was studied. The results demonstrate a clear correlation between the kinetic features of the nitroxides and their ability to inhibit biological damage inflicted by peroxyl radicals.

Dual activity of nitroxides as pro- and antioxidants: Catalysis of copper-mediated DNA breakage and H 2O 2 dismutation

Nitroxide antioxidants can be reduced to hydroxylamines or oxidized to oxoammonium cations. Consequently, nitroxides can modify oxidative damage acting as reducing and/or as oxidizing agents, and in many cases the nitroxides are continuously recycled. They provide protection against oxidative stress via various mechanisms including SOD-mimic activity and detoxification of carbon-, oxygen-, and nitrogen-centered radicals, as well as oxidation of reduced transition metals. In contrast to the common concept, according to which the nitroxides' protective effect takes place via inhibition of the Fenton reaction, there are observations suggesting the opposite. In the present investigation, DNA breakage catalyzed by copper served as an experimental model for studying the anti- and pro-oxidative activity of nitroxides. Nitroxides provided protection in the presence of GSH, which is known to facilitate metal-catalyzed DNA damage. In the absence of a reductant, nitroxides enhanced DNA breakage under aerobic conditions with or without added H 2O 2 and facilitated H 2O 2 depletion. The rates of nitroxide-catalyzed DNA breakage and H 2O 2 depletion increased as the concentrations of copper, H 2O 2, and nitroxide increased. Although the catalytic activity of nitroxides is low, it is sufficient to induce DNA breakage. The efficacy of DNA breakage by the tested piperidine nitroxides correlated with the nitroxide-induced depletion of H 2O 2 with the exception of the pyrrolidine nitroxide 3-carbamoylproxyl. The results suggest that the nitroxide and the copper are continuously recycled while catalyzing DNA breakage and depletion of H 2O 2, which serves both as a source of reducing equivalents and as the electron sink.

Ene-like Addition of an Oxoammonium Cation to Alkenes: Highly Selective Route to Allylic Alkoxyamines

The oxoammonium cation of 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium tetrafluoroborate (1) adds rapidly at room temperature in an ene-like fashion to trisubstituted alkenes to afford allylic alkoxyamines in high yield. [reaction: see text]

Catalytic oxidations mediated by metal ions and nitroxyl radicals

The use of nitroxyl radicals, alone or in combination with transition metals, as catalysts in oxidation processes is reviewed, from both a synthetic and a mechanistic viewpoint. Two extremes of reactivity can be distinguished: stable (persistent) dialkylnitroxyls, such as TEMPO, and reactive diacylnitroxyls, derived from N-hydroxy imides, such as N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). NHPI catalyzes a wide variety of free radical autoxidations, improving both activities and selectivities by increasing the rate of chain propagation and/or decreasing the rate of chain termination. In the absence of metal cocatalysts improved conversions and selectivities are obtained in the autoxidation of hydrocarbons to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides. In combination with transition metal cocatalysts, notably cobalt, NHPI and related compounds, such as N-hydroxysaccharin (NHS), afford effective catalytic systems for the autoxidation of hydrocarbons, e.g. toluenes to carboxylic acids and cycloalkanes to the corresponding ketones. Stable dialkylnitroxyl radicals, exemplified by TEMPO, catalyze oxidations of, e.g. alcohols, with single oxygen donors such as hypochlorite via the intermediate formation of the corresponding oxoammonium cation. Alternatively, in conjunction with transition metals, notably ruthenium and copper, they catalyze aerobic oxidations of alcohols via metal-centred dehydrogenation. The role of the TEMPO is to facilitate regeneration of the catalyst (Ru and Cu). In contrast, oxoammonium cations are involved in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by the copper-dependent oxidase, laccase, in combination with TEMPO. This different mechanistic pathway is attributed to the much higher redox potential of the copper(II) in the enzyme.

Kinetics and mechanism of the comproportionation reaction between oxoammonium cation and hydroxylamine derived from cyclic nitroxides

Cyclic nitroxides demonstrate antioxidative activity in numerous in vitro and in vivo models, which frequently involves the participation of the reduced and oxidized forms of the nitroxide, namely, the hydroxylamine and oxoammonium cation. Generally, cellular reducing equivalents facilitate rapid enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic reduction of nitroxides in the tissue. On the other hand, the reaction of nitroxides with various radicals yields the highly oxidizing oxoammonium cation, which mediates the catalytic effect of nitroxides in selective oxidation of alcohols. Hence, nitroxides might act as both anti- and pro-oxidants. Therefore, the comproportionation reaction between the oxoammonium cation and the hydroxylamine might play a role in lowering the pro-oxidative activity of nitroxides. Although the comproportionation reaction has previously been studied, there is no agreement regarding its kinetic features. We investigated the reaction of the reduced forms of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TPO) and 4-OH-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (4-OH-TPO) with the oxoammonium cation derived from TPO at various pHs using rapid-mixing stopped-flow and EPR spectrometry. From the pH dependence of the reaction rate constants we determined the p K 1 of the respective hydroxylamines to be 7.5 and 6.9, respectively. The reduction potentials of the hydroxylamines were determined by cyclic voltammetry, and from their dependence on pH, we obtained the same p K 1 values. The rate constant of the comproportionation reaction does not exceed 20 M −1 s −1 in the physiological pH range and, therefore, cannot greatly contribute toward recycling of the nitroxides in the tissue.

Reactions of Nitric Oxide, Peroxynitrite and Carbonate Radicals with Nitroxides and their Corresponding Oxoammonium Cations Volume 17, Number 2, February 2004, pp 250−257

Reactions of Nitric Oxide, Peroxynitrite and Carbonate Radicals with Nitroxides and their Corresponding Oxoammonium Cations Volume 17, Number 2, February 2004, pp 250−257

Organocatalytic Oxidations Mediated by Nitroxyl Radicals

AbstractThe use of nitroxyl radicals, alone or in combination with transition metals, as catalysts in oxidation processes is reviewed from both a synthetic and a mechanistic viewpoint. Two extremes of reactivity can be distinguished: stable (persistent) dialkylnitroxyls, such as the archetypal TEMPO, and reactive diacylnitroxyls, derived from N‐hydroxy imides, such as N‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). The different types of reactivity observed are rationalized by considering the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the respective N‐hydroxy precursors, substrates and reaction intermediates. Reactive diacylnitroxyl radicals are generated in situ from the corresponding N‐hydroxy compound. The protagonist, NHPI, catalyzes a wide variety of free radical autoxidations, improving both activities and selectivities by increasing the rate of chain propagation and/or decreasing the rate of chain termination. In the absence of metal co‐catalysts improved conversions and selectivities are obtained in the autoxidation of hydrocarbons to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides. For example, cyclohexylbenzene afforded the 1‐hydroperoxide in 97.6% selectivity at 32% conversion when the autoxidation was performed in the presence of 0.5 mol % NHPI, and the product hydroperoxide as initiator, at 100 °C. This forms the basis for a potential coproduct‐free route from benzene to phenol. In combination with transition metal co‐catalysts, notably cobalt, NHPI and related compounds, such as N‐hydroxysaccharin NHS, afford effective catalytic systems for the effective autoxidation of hydrocarbons, e.g., toluenes to carboxylic acids, under mild conditions. In the case of the less reactive cycloalkanes, NHS proved to be a more active catalyst than NHPI which is attributed to the higher reactivity of the intermediate nitroxyl radical, resulting from the replacement of a carbonyl group in NHPI by the more strongly electron‐attracting sulfonyl group. Stable dialkylnitroxyl radicals, exemplified by TEMPO, catalyze oxidations of, e.g., alcohols, with single oxygen donors such as hypochlorite and organic peracids. The reactions involve the intermediate formation of the corresponding oxoammonium cation as the active oxidant. Alternatively, in conjunction with transition metals, notably ruthenium and copper, they catalyze aerobic oxidations of alcohols. These reactions involve metal‐centered dehydrogenations and the role of the TEMPO is to facilitate regeneration of the catalyst (Ru and Cu) and oxidation of the alcohol (Cu) via hydrogen abstraction or one‐electron oxidation processes. Detailed mechanistic investigations, including kinetic isotope effects, revealed that oxoammonium cations are not involved as intermediates in these reactions. In contrast, oxoammonium cations are involved in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by the copper‐dependent oxidase, laccase, in combination with TEMPO. This different mechanistic pathway is attributed to the much higher redox potential of the copper(II) in the enzyme. Similarly, N‐hydroxy compounds such as NHPI also act as mediators in laccase‐catalyzed oxidations of alcohols. These reactions are assumed to involve one electron oxidation of the N‐hydroxy compound, leading to the formation of a proton and the nitroxyl radical, which abstracts a hydrogen atom from the substrate. However, neither of these laccase‐based systems has, as yet, attained the activity and scope of the TEMPO/hypochlorite system.