Comprehensive Insights into the Production of Long Chain Aliphatic Aldehydes Using a Copper-Radical Alcohol Oxidase as Biocatalyst

The oxidation of alcohols is a cornerstone reaction in chemistry, notably the flavor and fragrance industry where long-chain aliphatic aldehydes are major odorant compounds. In context greener alternatives sought after, biocatalysis holds many promises. Here, we investigated ability alcohol oxidase from Colletotrichum graminicola (CgrAlcOx)—an organic cofactor-free enzyme belonging to copper-radical (CRO) class—to convert industrially relevant alcohols. CgrAlcOx competent catalyst for conversion octan-1-ol when supported by accessory enzymes peroxidase catalase. Detailed examination products revealed occurrence an overoxidation step leading production carboxylic acid some benzaldehyde derivatives. partition between aldehyde varied upon substrate properties (chain length propensity form geminal-diols) specificity could be tuned controlling conditions. silico analyses suggested inhibitory binding mode geminal-diols substrate-induced fit mechanism benzyl derivative. By demonstrating their natural perform oxidation, present study establishes potential fungal CRO-AlcOx as promising candidates green