Nuclear amination of p-hydroquinones with primary aromatic amines was catalyzed by fungal laccases (EC 1.10. 3.2) from Trametes spec. and Myceliophthora thermophila. This is the first report of laccase-catalyzed synthesis of aminoquinones. Incubation of two compounds with laccase in the presence of oxygen resulted in the formation of the corresponding monoaminated or diaminated quinones. No hydroquinonoids were formed. ...