Organocatalytic Oxidation via Biomimetic Catalysts

Abstract

Monooxygenase enzymes as found in nature use flavin group structures to oxidise
substrates. Developments within the last 40 years have used heterocycle structures to promote oxidation reactions of various substrates.
Compounds within laundry stains contain moieties documented to have been oxidised by
molecules reported in the literature. These oxidised moieties possess greater solubility and
as such should be more easily solubilised and removed from fabrics. Novel technology holds
the potential for economic, environmental, and quality improvements over existing
products, everything limited by practical trade-offs interwoven to their underlying mode of
action. The theoretical background to laundry detergent and biomimetic catalysts are
discussed along with discussion on practical considerations for their development. The
synthesis of representative biomimetic catalysts as previously reported in the literature
have been explored and discussed. Details are presented regarding the methodology of stain
removal testing developed during the project; employing heterocycle groups alloxan, (iso)alloxazine and pyrimidine, under
various conditions to identify their stain removal effects as biomimetic peroxide activated
catalysts. A catalyst was identified as having potential as a stain removal agent in
non-aqueous solutions, however possessing only extremely mild activation under aqueous
conditions. Further discussion of the results; including other catalysts, potential problems
and methodology explores how future research may possibly be directed to whether
biomimetic oxidation catalysts can be applied successfully as a laundry detergent additive