Physicochemical Properties of 2-Methylthio-4-methylphenol, a Model Compound of the Novel Cofactor of Galactose Oxidase

Abstract

Abstract Physicochemical properties of 2-methylthio-4-methylphenol (1) were examined in order to obtain information about the nature of the newly found cofactor of galactose oxidase. Electrochemical studies and theoretical calculations indicated that the methylthio group works as an electron-withdrawing substituent to stabilize the radical species (one-electron oxidation state) of 1. The absorption spectrum obtained by the pulse radiolysis of 1 was very close to that of the oxidized apoenzyme.