By combining two green and efficient catalysts, such as the commercially available enzyme laccase from Trametes versicolor and the stable free radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO), the oxidation in water of some primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids or aldehydes and of selected secondary alcohols to ketones can be accomplished. The range of applicability of bio-oxidation is widened by applying the optimized protocol to the oxidation of enantiomerically pure 2-arylpropanols (profenols) into the corresponding 2-arylpropionic acids (profens), in high yields and with complete retention of configuration.

An efficienta nd practical chemo-enzymatic aerobic oxidation in water of benzylamines to obtain aldehydes or imines is described. Laccase from Trametes versicolor was chosena sb iocatalyst, and TEMPO (radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1oxyl) as mediator. As tudy on the pH dependence of the aqueous medium allowed us to realise af ine tuning on product selectivity.U nder our optimized reactionc onditions,t he bio-oxidation of as eries of primary,s econdary andc yclic amines has been achieved.