Synthesis of organic compounds using yellow yam (Dioscorea praehensilis) tyrosinase as catalyst

The authors report the synthesis of some bioactive organic compounds which could be pharmacological interest using Dioscorea praehensilis tyrosinase immobilized on calcium-alginate beads. enzymatic these involved pyruvic acid as a source carbonyl groups, ammonia and catechol. Catechol was used substrate parent compound that supplied aromatic ring carbons for reactions. structures novel synthesized were deduced UV, IR NMR spectroscopic techniques. Structural elucidation revealed lactone (3-hydroxyl-3-methylbenzo[b][1,4]-lactone) in presence catechol only. When solution introduced into reaction system, there conversion blue-colored red-colored product. structure elucidated 2-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)-2-aminopropanoic acid. Whereas, only, secondary amine (1,6-dihydroxy-7-aza,bicyclo[4.1.0]-2,4-heptadiene) synthesized. Though possess functional specific or biotechnological applications are yet to investigated established. Key words: Yam Tyrosinase, catechol, lactone, amino acid, amine.