Reaction-directing Properties of Non-enzymic Macromolecules: Pyrogallol Oxidation in the System Iron(lll)-Cellulose

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the plant cell wall is regarded as an inert substance, mechanical in function, recent studies have demonstrated wall polysaccharides to be active sites (matrices) in the directed polymerization of 4-hydroxyphenylpropene derivatives (such as eugenol) to lignins¹. Other investigations have shown the peroxidation of pyrogallol catalysed by iron(III) to be enhanced by low concentrations of non-enzymic deoxyribonucleic acid², and have emphasized both the qualitative and quantitative effects accruing from addition of solid surfaces to various chemical or biochemical systems^3–6.