Formation of bioactive benzofuran via oxidative coupling, using coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.) as biocatalyst

The capacity of simple coconut water, which contains natural peroxidases, to act as a biocatalyst for the oxidative coupling-cyclization of p-(OH)-phenylpropanoids, was evaluated in this work. As a result, dimeric forms of isoeugenol (licarin A) and methyl p-coumarate (methyl dehydrodicoumarate) were obtained. The products of the reactions were characterized by optical rotatory dispersion, and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The oxidative coupling-cyclization mechanism for coniferyl alcohol is proposed.