Biocatalytic synthesis of polymers. II. Preparation of [AA–BB]x polyesters by porcine pancreatic lipase catalyzed transesterification in anhydrous,low polarity organic solvents

Enzyme-catalyzed preparation of polymers offers several potentially valuable advantages over the usual polymerization procedures. (1) Such polymerizations may allow the polymer to retain functionality that would be destroyed under normal polymerization conditions. (2) The selectivity provided by enzyme catalysts may permit polymers, including optically active polymers, to be prepared that are either not accessible or accessible only with difficulty by other methods. (3) The characteristics of the enzyme and the mild polymerization conditions may permit formation of polymers having highly regular sizes and backbone structures. This report describes the first successful use of an enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation to prepare a chiral (AA–BB)_x polyesters of more than a few repeat units. Polymerization of bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) alkanedioates (BB) with diols (AA) using the enzyme porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) as a catalyst is detailed. The polycondensations were carried out at ambient temperature in anhydrous, low polarity organic solvents such as ether, THF, and methylene chloride. End group analysis by NMR provided M_n values of 1300–8200 daltons while GPC provided M_w values of 2800–14900 daltons for the polymers. Based on proton NMR spectra obtained during the polymerization, relatively rapid formation of an AA–BB “dimer” and an AA–BB–AA “trimer,” slower formation of a BB–AA–BB “trimer,” and subsequent condensation of these to give higher polymers are suggested to be components of the polymerization mechanism.     

Configurational characteristics of trans-1,4-polychloroprene: Experimental results on the unperturbed dimensions and their temperature coefficient

Polychloroprene [CCl?CH? CH₂? CH₂? ]_x of approximately 95% trans-1,4 stereochemical structure was prepared by low-temperature emulsion polymerization. Fractions, obtained by liquid–liquid precipitations were studied in toluene solutions at 30°C by viscometry and osmometry. In addition, force–temperature measurements were carried out on networks of the polymer in the amorphous state. The results obtained on the polymer solutions indicate that the unperturbed dimensions of trans-1,4-polychloroprene are essentially the same as those of trans-1,4-polybutadiene of the same molecular weight. This observation, that substitution of a relatively large Cl atom for one of the methine H atoms in the trans-1,4-polybutadiene repeat unit has little effect on the chain dimensions, suggests that this increase in substituent size is offset by the fact that the length of a C? Cl bond is very much greater than that of a C? H bond. The results obtained on the polymer networks indicate that the unperturbed dimensions of trans-1,4-polychloroprene decrease significantly with increasing temperature, as has also been reported for both trans-1,4-polybutadiene and trans-1,4-polyisoprene.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Optical Properties of a Novel Si‐Containing σ‐π‐Conjugated Hyperbranched Polymer

The polymerization of bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)methylsilane catalyzed by RhI(PPh₃)₃ afforded a regio‐ and stereoregular hyperbranched polymer, hb‐poly[(methylsilylene)bis(1,4‐phenylene‐trans‐vinylene)] (poly( 1 )), containing 95% trans‐vinylene moieties. The weight loss of this polymer at 900°C in N₂ was 9%. Poly( 1 ) displayed an absorption due to π‐π* transition around 275 nm as a shoulder and a weak absorption around 330 nm due to π‐to‐σ charge transfer, which was hardly seen in the corresponding linear polymer.     

Stereoelective cationic polymerization of propenyl ether by asymmetric catalysts

In order to elucidate the possibility of stereoelective cationic polymerization (asymmetric selective polymerization) of olefinic monomers, racemic cis- and trans-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether and racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether were polymerized by asymmetric alkoxyaluminum dichlorides. In the polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether with (?)-menthoxyaluminum dichloride in toluene at ?78°C, the polymer obtained showed a positive optical activity, and the residual monomers were converted by BF₃OEt₂ into a polymer having a negative optical activity. Thus, the stereoelective polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether was beyond any doubt attained in homogeneous cationic polymerization. In the polymerization of the trans isomer by the same catalyst, an optically active polymer was hardly formed. In the polymerization of racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether which has no β-methyl group, stereoelectivity was not observed at all. The cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether did not produce an optical active polymer in the polymerization catalyzed by (S)-1-methylpropoxyaluminum dichloride or (S)-2-methylbutoxyaluminum dichloride under the same polymerization conditions.     

Resolution of (±)-2,3-Dihydro-2-phenyl-4(1H)-Quinolone

The resolution of (±)-2,3-dihydro-2-phenyl-4(1H)-quinolone into individual enantiomers was achieved using the optically active oxo reagent (-)-5-(α-phenethyl)-semioxamazide. The enantiomeric purity was checked by ¹H-NMR using the chiral lanthanide shift reagent Eu(hfc)₃.     

L-Carnitine. Novel Synthesis and Determination of the Optical Purity

A new route to L-carnitine ( 1 ) based on the resolution of th trimethylammonium derivative 5 is described. The enantiomeric purity of 1 is determined by ¹H-NMR of its O-acetyl hydrochloride 11 using [Eu(hfc)₃] as chiral shift reagent. The optical rotation of 1 with an enantiomeric purity ≥99% is [α] =?31.3° (c = 10, H₂O).     

Homo‐ and Copolymerization of Butadiene Catalyzed by an Bis(imino)pyridyl Vanadium Complex

Summary: The bis(imino)pyridyl vanadium(III ) complex [VCl₃{2,6‐bis[(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂(C₅H₃N)}] activated with different aluminium cocatalysts (AlEt₂Cl, Al₂Et₃Cl₃, MAO) promotes chemoselective 1,4‐polymerization of butadiene with activity values higher than classical vanadium‐chloride‐based catalysts. The polymer structure depends on the nature of the cocatalyst employed. The MAO‐activated complex was also found to be active in ethylene‐butadiene copolymerization, producing copolymers with up to 45 mol‐% of trans‐1,4‐butadiene. Crystalline polyethylene and trans‐1,4‐poly(butadiene) segments were detected in these copolymers by DSC and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.

     

Crosslinking network of bio‐based bis‐functional epoxides derived from trans‐limonene oxide

The thiol‐ene reaction between trans‐limonene oxide (trans‐LO) and ethane‐1,2‐dithiol in the presence of triethylborane affords a bio‐based bis‐functional epoxide (bis‐trans‐LO). The crosslinking reaction of bis‐trans‐LO with branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI; M_n = 600; BPEI₆₀₀) at a feed ratio of bis‐trans‐LO/BPEI₆₀₀ = 57/43 (wt/wt) yields the corresponding network polymer with T_d10 (10% thermal decomposition temperature) of 304.7 °C in 98% yield. In contrast, negligible amounts of network polymer are obtained by the reaction of bis‐LO (bis‐functional epoxide derived from cis and trans‐LO) and BPEI₆₀₀ regardless of the feed ratio. The mechanical strengths as measured by direct tensile tests of the network polymers derived from bis‐trans‐LO and BPEI_600,1800 (M_n = 600 and 1800) were approximately 16 and 11 times higher than that of bis‐LO and BPEI₁₈₀₀, respectively. The tensile shear strengths of the metal‐to‐metal adhesive bonds induced by bis‐trans‐LO and BPEI_600,1800 were 9.5 and 14.1 MPa, respectively. DMA revealed that the storage modulus of the network polymer derived from bis‐trans‐LO and BPEI₁₈₀₀ in the rubber region was higher than that of the material prepared from bis‐LO and BPEI₁₈₀₀, indicating higher crosslink density of the bis‐trans‐LO/BPEI₁₈₀₀ system. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2466–2473     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

Equimolecular binary polydines. V. Equibinary poly(cis-1,4–trans-1,4)butadiene from bis(π-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate)

The preparation of equibinary poly(cis-1,4–trans-1,4)butadiene was investigated in the presence of bis(π-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate) modified with suitable additional ligands. The behavior of the catalytic species in the polymerization reaction as well as the specific basic properties of the equibinary polybutadiene produced support obviously a regular distribution of the cis and trans isomers in the polymer chains.     

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF cis-,4-POLYBUTADIENE CONTAINING A FRACTION OF trans-1,4-POLYBUTADIENE

Polymerization of butadiene catalysed first with V(acac)_3-Al(i-Bu)_2Cl, then with Co(acac)_3-H_2O-Al(i-Bu)_2Cl has been studied. The polymer obtained was identified to be a new variety of cis-1,4-polybutadiene which contained a fraction of trans-1,4-polybutadiene chemically bonded to the cis-1,4-polybutadiene chains. Its molecular weight and trans-1,4 content can be regulated by varying the catalyst composition and concentration as well as other polymerization conditions. The trans-1,4 fraction, although it presents only in 9—16%, forms a crystalline phase in the matrix at room temperature and facilitates the crystallization of the polymer.     

Resolution of a chiral alcohol through lipase-catalyzed transesterification of its mixed carbonate by poly(ethylene glycol) in organic media

A simple approach to the resolution of chiral alcohols through a lipase-catalyzed transesterification of one enantiomer of the corresponding trifluoroethyl carbonate by a low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, is described. The method was demonstrated through resolution of (RS)-sec-phenethyl alcohol. The alcohol was converted to its 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate, 2, and the (R)-enantiomer was selectively transesterified with PEG in warm diisopropyl ether using porcine pancreas lipase, PPL, as the catalyst. The two carbonate enantiomers were easily separated by cooling and filtering off the solid PEG having the (R)-alcohol covalently attached. Hydrolysis of the unchanged (S)-carbonate was achieved in dilute aqueous base, and the enantiomeric excess of the (S)-alcohol was found to be 80% by NMR in the presence of the chiral shift reagent Eu(hfc)₃. Methanolysis of the modified (R)-PEG carbonate yielded (R)-sec-phenethyl alcohol having enantiomeric excess=96% by NMR with Eu(hfc)₃.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Polyester Synthesis

Abstract

The use of lipase as biocatalyst in polyesterification of aliphatic diacids or their derivatives, and diols in an organic solvent has been discussed. We have demonstrated that bis(2-chloroethyl) esters of succinic, fumaric, and maleic acid, and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) sebacate and -dodecanedioate can be polymerized by lipase-catalyzed polytransesterification. Maleate was isomerized to fumarate even under mild reaction conditions, resulting in poly(1,4-butyl fumarate). In order to obtain a high mass-average molar mass of the polyester, solid Mucor miehei lipase was found to be the best lipase and diphenyl ether the best solvent of several investigated. There was no clear relationship with the log P value of the solvent and the polyesterification activity of lipase. The highest degree of polymerization (DP = 184) of poly(1,4-butyl sebacate) with a mass-average molar mass of 46,600 g·mol^?1 was obtained in polytransesterification of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) sebacate and 1,4-butanediol using a programmed vacuum profile. However, a mass-average molar mass as high as about 42,000 g·mol^?1 (DP = 167) was also obtained with free sebacic acid when vacuum was employed to remove the water formed during esterification. The mass average molar mass of the polyester increased with an increase in the relative quantity of lipase up to 1 g per 1.5 mmol of diacid, with an increase in the molar mass of the aliphatic diol up to 1,5-pentanediol, and with an increase in the concentration of substrates up to 0.83 M.     

Preparation,structure, and optical properties of chiral sulfoxides and disulfoxide with a trithiole ring

Optically active 4,9‐diethyl[1,4]‐dithiino[5,6‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5‐oxide ( 3 ) and 4,9‐diethyl[1,4]dithiino[5,6‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5,8‐dioxide ( 4 ) were obtained by the asymmetric oxidation of 6,11‐diethyl[1,4]dithiino[5,6‐h]benzo[1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin ( 1 ). The reaction was accompanied by desulfurization and ring‐contraction reactions of the pentathiepin ring. Similarly, optically active 4,8‐diethyl[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5‐oxide ( 7 ) was produced by the analogous asymmetric oxidation of 6,10‐diethyl[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐h]benzo[1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin ( 2 ). The specific rotations of 3 , 4 , and 7 were measured in chloroform, and their optical purity was verified by ¹H NMR with a shift reagent [Eu(hfc)₃]. The structures of 4 and 7 were determined by X‐ray crystallography using Cu Kα radiation, and the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group was examined based on the Flack parameter, which revealed that 4 has an RR configuration, while 7 has an S configuration. The circular dichroism spectra of 3 , 4 , and 7 were measured in chloroform. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:88–94, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10104     

Z- and E-selective Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reactions

In the present work, we determined and evaluated the stereochemical outcome of the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction of 2-oxoalkylphosphonates with different ester functions (bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methyl, dimethyl) and side chains (aliphatic, aromatic) with three different aldehydes (benzaldehyde, THP- and PPB-protected Corey aldehydes) under two reaction conditions. The “trans” protocol is generally used in the E-selective HWE reactions, while “cis” protocol promotes the Z-selectivity.     

Mechanism aspects of th e ring-opening polymerization of the episulfides compared to epoxides

The cis- and trans-2-butene episulfides polymerize with cationic catalyts differently than reported for the corresponding oxides. Where the cis-oxide gave amorphous disyndiotactic polymer, the cis-sulfide gives crystalline racemic diisotactic polymer since this polymer could be asymmetrically synthesized in optically active form. Also the same crystalline polymer was obtained with coordination catalysts. Where the trans-oxide gave only crystalline, meso-diisotactic polymer, the trans-sulfide gives mainly amorphous polymer which, in one case, did slowly crystallize. The difference between the trans forms appears due to the longer C? S bond which lowers steric hindrance and thus isomer selection in the attack of episulfide on the growing sulfonium ion to give less steroregular polymer. The difference in the cis forms may result from the sulfur atom in the last chain unit coordinating with the counterion. The greater hindrance around oxygen in the comparable oxide polymers may prevent the same mechanism from being utilized. The cationic polymerization of isobutylene sulfide gives both crystalline and amorphous polymer. NMR evidence indicates that the amorphous polymer results from substantial head-to-head, tail-to-tail polymerization, along with the expected head-to-tail polymerization. The same phenomenon occurs, but to a lesser extent, in cationic isobutylene oxide polymerizations. The preparation and properties of high molecular weight, head-to-tail isobutylene oxide and sulfide polymers from R₂Mg-NH₃ coordination catalysis are described.     

Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. III. Effect of the alkoxy group on the steric structure of polymers

Propagation mechanism in the cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers was investigated through the effect of the bulkiness of alkoxy groups on the steric structure of a polymer. In polymerization with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ in toluene at ?78°C, trans-propenyl ethers having less bulky alkoxy groups–methyl, ethyl, and benzyl propenyl ethers–produced a stereoregular polymer having a threo-meso structure, and the cis isomer a nonstereoregular one having threo-meso and racemic structures. On the other hand, in the polymerization of propenyl ethers having bulky alkoxy groups–isopropyl and 1-methylpropyl propenyl ethers–the trans isomer yielded a nonstereoregular polymer with threo-meso and racemic structures, and the cis isomer a stereoregular one with a erythro-meso structure. This result suggests that a bulky alkoxy group plays an important role in determining the steric structure of the polymer by repulsion between the alkoxy groups of a growing chain end and of a monomer. The effect of solvent polarity on the steric structure of a polymer was also studied.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of polymers. III. Formation of a high molecular weight polyester through limitation of hydrolysis by enzyme-bound water and through equilibrium control

Enzyme-catalyzed preparation of polymers offers several potentially valuable advantages over the usual polymerization procedures and has been studied for several years. A significant limitation on the polyesters prepared to date has been the low molecular weights achieved. The present studies have established that, in the polycondensation of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) glutarate with 1,4-butanediol using porcine pancreatic lipase as the catalyst, this limitation arises from at least two sources: hydrolysis of activated ester end groups by water introduced along with the enzyme and the polymerization's reaching equilibrium despite using the poorly nucleophilic 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol as the leaving group. Evidence is also developed that the presence of trifluoroethanol accelerates the release of the enzyme-bound water which hydrolyzes the activated ester end groups. The hydrolysis could be avoided by choosing a relatively high-boiling solvent, such as bis(2-ethoxyethyl) ether, then removing the trifluoroethanol by placing the reaction mixture under vacuum periodically or by drying the enzyme rigorously. The vacuum method also removed the limitation on molecular weight resulting from the reaction's reaching equilibrium. A further improvement in the molecular weight to nearly 40,000 daltons, well within the range that is technically interesting, was achieved by using 1,2-dimethoxybenzene or 1,3-dimethoxybenzene as the polymerization solvent. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of 2‐pentene with Ni(II) α‐diimine complex/M‐MAO catalyst and structure of the polymer

Polymerization of 2‐pentene with [ArN?C(An)C(An)·NAr)NiBr₂ (Ar?2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)] ( 1‐Ni) /M‐MAO catalyst was investigated. A reactivity between trans‐2‐pentene and cis‐2‐pentene on the polymerization was quite different, and trans‐2‐pentene polymerized with 1‐Ni /M‐MAO catalyst to give a high molecular weight polymer. On the other hand, the polymerization of cis‐2‐butene with 1‐Ni /M‐MAO catalyst did not give any polymeric products. In the polymerization of mixture of trans‐ and cis‐2‐pentene with 1‐Ni /M‐MAO catalyst, the M_n of the polymer increased with an increase of the polymer yields. However, the relationship between polymer yield and the M_n of the polymer did not give a strict straight line, and the M_w/M_n also increased with increasing polymer yield. This suggests that side reactions were induced during the polymerization. The structures of the polymer obtained from the polymerization of 2‐ pentene with 1‐Ni /M‐MAO catalyst consists of ? CH₂? CH₂? CH(CH₂CH₃)? , ? CH₂? CH₂? CH₂? CH(CH₃)? , ? CH₂? CH(CH₂CH₂CH₃)? , and methylene sequence ? (CH₂)_n? (n ≥ 5) units, which is related to the chain walking mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2858–2863, 2008     

Esters phosphoriques cycliques ou non cycliques de quelques O-isopropylidène-1,2-α-D-pentofurannoses. Communication préliminaire

Cyclic and acyclic phosphate esters of some 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D -pentofuranoses When treated with monophenyl phosphorodichloridate, 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D -xylofuranose gave the two possible, isolable isomers of the corresponding 3,5-cylic phenylphosphate. Upon phosphorylation of the same sugar derivative using bis (2,2,2-trichloroethyl) phosphorochloridate only one isomer was formed. The same situation obtained when preparing 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D -ribofuranose-3,5-cyclic phenylphosphate. The synthesis of a new kind of sugar phosphate with a branched-chain unsaturated sugar moiety namely the trans-3-deoxy-3-C-cyanomethylene-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D -erytho-pentofuranose 5-bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) phosphate is also described.