Preparation of 4-vinylphenol using pHCA decarboxylase in a two-solvent medium

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/op0602472

An efficient synthesis of 4-vinylphenol (4-VP) from parahydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA) that uses the enzyme parahydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase (PDC) in a two-phase aqueous-organic solvent has been developed. The 4-VP titer and catalyst productivity (17 g L^-1; 1010 g 4-VP isolated g^-1 catalyst) greatly exceed those for intact cells expressing PDC or calcium alginate bead-immobilized PDC-expressing cells in an aqueous buffer (5 g L ^-1; 4,4 to 64 g of isolated 4-VP per gram of catalyst). In this two-phase reaction design, the organic solvent (e.g., toluene) enabled continuous extraction of 4-VP into the organic phase and either its recovery as a crystalline solid with low color or its direct conversion to 4-acetoxystyrene.