Several fungal laccases have been compared for the oxidation of a nonphenolic lignin dimer, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propan-1,3-diol (I), and a phenolic lignin model compound, phenol red in the presence of the redox mediators 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (1-HBT) or violuric acid. The oxidation rates of dimer I by the laccases were in the following order: Trametes villosa: laccase (TvL) > Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase (PcL) > Botrytis cinerea. laccase (BcL) > Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (MtL) in the presence of either 1-HBT or violuric acid. The order Is the same if the laccases are used at the same molar concentration or added to the: same activity (with ABTS [2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] as a substrate). During the oxidation of dimer I, both 1-HBT and violuric acid were to some extent consumed. Their consumption rates also follow the above order of laccases, i.e., TvL > Pet > Bet > MtL. Violuric acid allowed TvL and Pet to oxidize dimer I much faster than 1-HBT, while Bet and violuric acid oxidized dimer I more slowly than Bet and 1-HBT. The oxidation rate of dimer I is dependent upon both k(cat) and the stability of the laccase. Both 1-HBT and violuric acid inactivated the laccases, violuric acid to a greater extent than 1-HBT.The presence of dimer I or phenol red in the reaction mixture slowed down this inactivation. The inactivation is mainly due to the reaction of the redox mediator free radical with the laccases. We did not find any relationship between the carbohydrate content of the laccases and their inactivation. When the redox potential of the laccases is in the range of 750 to 800 mV, i.e., above that of the redox mediator, it does not affect k(cat) and the oxidation rate of dimer I.