Oxidation of Thianthrene by the Ligninase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The oxidation of heterocyclic sulfur compounds reported to be part of the macrostructure of coal and petroleum was investigated. The oxidation of thianthrene solubilized in 10% dimethylformamide to thianthrene monosulfoxide in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was catalyzed by the ligninase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.