Mechanism of oxidation of nitroethane by glucose oxidase.

The oxidation of nitroethane by glucose oxidase has been studied in detail and compared to the analogous reaction catalyzed by n-amino acid oxidase and to the behavior of sugar substrates of glucose oxidase. The overall stoichiometry of the reaction is nonintegral and incompletely understood. Although the major products are nitrite, acetaldehyde (P), and hydrogen peroxide, small amounts of nitrate and dinitroethane are also obtained. This behavior suggests that free radical intermediates may be involved. The kinetic mechanism has been deduced from a combination of steady and transient state kinetic experiments and is as follows in the case of nitroethane anion (S).