Synthesis, characterization and degradability of the comb-type poly(4-hydroxyl-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone)-g-poly(l-lactide)

The novel comb-type biodegradable graft copolymers based on ε-caprolactone and l-lactide were synthesized. Firstly, 2-oxepane-1,5-dione (OPD) was synthesized by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 1,4-cyclohexanedione, and was subsequently copolymerized with ε-caprolactone (CL) to produce poly(2-oxepane-1,5-dione-co-ε-caprolactone) (POCL) catalyzed by stannous(II) 2-ethylhexanoate in toluene. Then, POCL was converted into poly(4-hydroxyl-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone) (PHCL) using sodium borohydride as reductant. Finally, poly(4-hydroxyl-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone)-g-poly(l-lactide) (PHCL-g-PLLA) were prepared successfully by bulk ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using PHCL as a macro-initiator. All the copolymers have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, DSC, and GPC. Compared with the random copolymer of poly(CL-co-LA), the elongation is highly increased. And the thermal analysis showed that the crystallization rate of the PCL backbone in the graft copolymers was greatly reduced compared to the PCL homopolymer. The hydrolytic degradation of the copolymer was much faster in a phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) at 37 °C, which is confirmed by the weight loss and change of intrinsic viscosity.     

Microbial Baeyer-Villiger oxidation: stereopreference and substrate acceptance of cyclohexanone monooxygenase mutants prepared by directed evolution

[reaction: see text] An array of random mutants of cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 was screened against a library of structurally diverse ketones for modifications in the substrate acceptance profile and stereopreference of the enzymatic Baeyer-Villiger biooxidation. While the set of mutant biocatalysts was initially evolved for the enantiocomplementary oxidation of 4-hydroxycyclohexanone, improved and/or divergent stereoselectivities were observed for several substrates. In addition, expanded substrate acceptance to facilitate biotransformation of sterically demanding ketones was found.     

A rationale of the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to ε-caprolactone with hydrogen peroxide: unprecedented evidence for a radical mechanism controlling reactivity

We demonstrate, for the first time, in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide under conditions aimed at obtaining ε-caprolactone, that a thermally activated radical reaction leads to the concurrent formation of adipic acid, even when a stoichiometric amount of the oxidant is used. In fact, ε-caprolactone is the primary reaction product, but it is more reactive than cyclohexanone, and quickly undergoes consecutive transformations. When titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) is used as a catalyst, the high concentration of hydroxy radicals within its pores accelerates the reaction rates, and the consecutive formation of adipic acid (and of lighter diacids as well) becomes largely kinetically preferred. The proper choice of the solvent, which also may act as a radical scavenger, both without catalyst and with TS-1, is a powerful tool for controlling the rates of the various reactions involved.     

Metal hydroxides as catalysts for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with hydrogen peroxide

This paper reports the results obtained in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with a hydrogen peroxide/benzonitrile mixture as oxidant in the presence of synthetic metal hydroxides or their calcined products as catalysts. The metal hydroxides were obtained by coprecipitation. The best ε-caprolactone conversion results were provided by magnesium hydroxide.     

Synthesis, characterization and degradability of the novel aliphatic polyester bearing pendant N-isopropylamide functional groups

The synthesis, characterization, and degradability of the novel aliphatic polyester bearing pendant N-isopropylamide functional group are reported for the first time. 2-(N-Isopropyl-2-carbamoylethyl)cyclohexanone (CCH) was first synthesized by the Michael reaction of N-isopropylacrylamide with cyclohexanone and was subsequently converted into 6-(N-isopropyl-2-carbamoylethyl)-?-caprolactone (CCL) by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction using 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) as the oxidant. Finally, the novel functionalized poly(?-caprolactone) bearing the pendant N-isopropylamide functional groups, poly(6-(N-isopropyl-2-carbamoylethyl)-?-caprolactone-co-?-caprolactone)s (poly(CCL-co-CL)), were carried out successfully by bulk ring-opening polymerization of CCL and ?-CL initiated by Sn(Oct)₂. Poly(CCL-co-CL) were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, SEC and DSC. The copolymer containing 9.1 mol% CCL formed flexible films and was used to study its degradability. A phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) with temperature 37 °C was adopted to proceed the degrading study all through. Compared with poly(?-caprolactone), the hydrolytic degradation of poly(CCL-co-CL) was much faster, which is confirmed by the weight loss and change of intrinsic viscosity.     

What to sacrifice? Fusions of cofactor regenerating enzymes with Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases and alcohol dehydrogenases for self-sufficient redox biocatalysis

A collection of fusion biocatalysts has been generated that can be used for self-sufficient oxygenations or ketone reductions. These biocatalysts were created by fusing a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Thermocrispum municipale: TmCHMO) or an alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis: LbADH) with three different cofactor regeneration enzymes (formate dehydrogenase from Burkholderia stabilis: BsFDH; glucose dehydrogenase from Sulfolobus tokodaii: StGDH, and phosphite dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas stutzeri: PsPTDH). Their tolerance against various organic solvents, including a deep eutectic solvent, and their activity and selectivity with a variety of substrates have been studied. Excellent conversions and enantioselectivities were obtained, demonstrating that these engineered fusion enzymes can be used as biocatalysts for the synthesis of (chiral) valuable compounds.     

Thermodynamical properties of ε-caprolactone

The values of the combustion and enthalpies of formation for ε-caprolactone were determined by means of combustion calorimetry. The vapor pressures of lactone were measured in the range of 283–353 K, and the value of its enthalpy of vaporization was estimated by the transpiration method. Conformational analysis and calculations of the equilibrium structures, inertia moments, and sets of fundamental vibrations was performed by the B3LYP/6-311++G(3 df, 3 pd) quantum-chemical method. The total energies of the most stable lactone conformers were found and Δ_fH(g) was estimated using the composite G3MP2 method. The set of fundamental vibrations for the most stable conformers of the compound was developed on the basis of the available experimental IR spectra and calculated vibration frequencies. The values of the thermodynamic properties of ε-caprolactone were determined in the ideal ga s state in the range of 0—1500 K. A set of reliable and interconsistent thermodynamic parameters for ε-caprolactone was created. Thermodynamic analysis for liquid-phase polymerization of s-caprolactone in the temperature range of 220—500 K was carried out.     

Effect of microwave energy on chain propagation of poly(ε-caprolactone) in benzoic acid-initiated ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Microwave-assisted ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) initiated by benzoic acid was investigated. The molar ratio of ε-CL to benzoic acid was 5, 15 and 25. The mixtures of ε-CL/benzoic acid were heated under microwave irradiation and the temperatures were self-regulated to equilibrium from 204 to 240 °C with microwave power ranging from 340 to 680 W. The polymer chain propagated fast between 160 and 230 °C, within which the higher the temperature, the faster the propagation. However, when the temperature was over 230 °C, the resultant poly-(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) degraded. The advantage of microwave-assisted polymerization was that the propagation of PCL chain was significantly enhanced but the formation of growing center at the beginning stage of the polymerization was greatly inhibited. With this metal-free method, PCL with weight-average molar mass (M_w) over 4×10⁴ g/mol was prepared.     

New bioorganic reagents: evolved cyclohexanone monooxygenase--why is it more selective?

Four mutants of the cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) evolved as catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 4-hydroxycyclohexanone were investigated as catalysts for a variety of 4-substituted and 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexanones. Several excellent catalytic matches (mutant/substrate) were identified. The most important, however, is the finding that, in a number of cases, a mutant with a single exchange, Phe432Ser, was shown to be as robust and more selective as a catalyst than the wild-type CHMO. All biotransformations were performed on a laboratory scale, allowing full characterization of the products. The absolute configurations of two products were established. A model suggesting a possible role of the 432 serine residue in enantioselectivity control is proposed.     

Controlled ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters with phosphoric acid as catalysts

(R)-(?)-1,1′-Binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl hydrogen phosphate (BPA) has been demonstrated as an efficient organocatalyst for controlled ring-opening homopolymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and copolymerization of ε-CL with glycolide and lactide. High molar mass PCL with narrow molar mass distribution has also been synthesized from the bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-CL with BPA as catalysts; the highest molar mass of PCL is 4.35?×?10⁴ g/mol with polydispersity index of 1.20. The successful synthesis of high molar mass PCL is attributed to the bifunctional activation mechanism for the ROP of ε-CL catalyzed by BPA. More interestingly, ppm level of BPA is sufficient to catalyze controlled ROP of ε-CL.     

液固相同晶取代法制备Sn-NaY催化环己酮Baeyer-Villiger氧化

以微孔分子筛NaY为载体,SnCl_4·5H_2O为锡源,通过液固相同晶取代法制备催化材料Sn-NaY,研究了脱铝预处理和焙烧两个因素对制备Sn-NaY的影响.采用FT-IR、UV-Vis、XRD、N_2物理吸附、ICP、NH_3-TPD、吡啶红外、激光拉曼等手段对催化材料进行了表征.结果表明:对载体进行脱铝预处理有利于分子筛在催化剂制备过程中保持良好的骨架结构,焙烧有利于进入分子筛骨架中的Sn(Ⅳ)与硅羟基成键,从而形成有催化活性的四配位的Sn(Ⅳ),而空气氛围下焙烧容易产生骨架外SnO_2物种.Sn-NaY催化环己酮Baeyer-Villiger氧化结果表明,在环己酮0.03 mol,n(H_2O_2)∶n(酮)=1.5∶1,0.35 g催化剂,15 mL乙腈,70℃反应24 h的工艺条件下,N_2氛围焙烧的同晶取代脱铝催化剂性能最好,环己酮的转化率可达44%,己内酯的选择性为62%.     

Synthesis and properties of Pluronic-based pentablock copolymers with pendant amino groups

Amphiphilic Pluronic-based pentablock copolymers with pendant amino groups have been successfully synthesized via ring opening polymerization of γ-(carbamic acid benzyl ester)-ε-caprolactone (γCABεCL) and ε-caprolactone (εCL) using Pluronic F127 as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst, and followed by hydrolysis of the Cbz protected groups under acidic conditions. The structure of the copolymer was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra. In addition, gel permeation chromatography results demonstrated that the synthetic copolymer had a single and symmetrical peak. Moreover, the crystallinity and hydrophilicity could be well adjusted by the content of the functionalized monomer. Successful formation of aggregates was demonstrated by fluorescence method and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the micelles had a spherical morphology and the size was on nano scale according to the laser particle sizer results. The polymeric micelles had no obvious cytotoxicity even the micelles concentration reached 500 mg/L. Thus the Pluronic-b-poly(γ-amino-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers have great potential for the use in the biomedical fields.     

Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Cyclohexanone with Molecular Oxygen in the Presence of Benzaldehyde

The metal-catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with molecular oxygen (latm) in the presence of benzaldehyde gives δ -caprolactone in high yield. The same oxidation in the absence of metal catalysts is also studied. Additives to the system can improve the reaction highly efficiently.     

A new finding in selective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of α-fluorinated ketones; a new and practical route for the synthesis of α-fluorinated esters

α-Fluorinated esters were effectively prepared by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of α-fluorinated ketones with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) under mild conditions. The yield of the esters was influenced by the choice of solvent, base, and substituent on the aryl group of the ketones. 4-Methoxyphenyl substituted fluoroketones were oxidized almost quantitatively with m-CPBA within 10 min to 12 h at room temperature using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as a cosolvent with CH₂Cl₂ (1:1, v/v) and aqueous buffer (KH₂PO₄-NaOH, pH 7.6) as an additive base. The oxidation reaction rates of α-fluorinated ketones were higher than those of the corresponding non-fluorinated ketones. The fluorine atom at α-position of fluoromethyl aryl ketones enhanced the reactivity in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.     

Organogelation behavior and thermal properties of supramolecular polymer networks using pyridyl-terminated 4-arm star-shaped ε-caprolactone oligomers and disulfonic acids

As a tetrapyridyl compound, nicotinate-terminated 4-arm star-shaped ε-caprolactone oligomer (Tetra-NA-CLO) was synthesized by the esterification reaction of nicotinic acid and hydroxy-terminated 4-arm star-shaped ε-caprolactone oligomer (Tetra-OH-CLO) having the degree of polymerization per one oligocaprolactone chain, n?=?5. As disulfonic acids, 1,3-bis(sulfopropoxy)propane (BSP) and 1,6-bis(sulfopropoxy)hexane (BSH) were synthesized by the reactions of 1,3-propanesultone with 1,3-propanediol and 1,6-hexanediol, respectively. A mixture of Tetra-NA-CLO and BSP or BSH became a thermo-reversible organogel in methanol, ethanol, and N,N-dimethylformamide at the concentration not less than 20 wt%. The sol-gel transition temperature of the mixtures was at around 15–20 °C. The ¹H NMR analysis of the mixture in a solution revealed a complete ionization of the pyridyl ring by the formation of pyridinium sulfonate moiety. The dried Tetra-NA-CLO/BSP and Tetra-NA-CLO/BSH films had higher crystallinity and melting temperature than that of the dried Tetra-NA-CLO film. The FT-IR analysis of the mixture in a dried solid state revealed that both the ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions contributed.     

Combining Genome Shuffling and Interspecific Hybridization Among Streptomyces Improved ε-Poly-l-Lysine Production

Here we first improved the ε-PL productivity in five species of wild-type strains in Streptomyces (Streptomyces padanus, Streptomyces griseofuscus, Streptomyces graminearus, Streptomyces hygroscopicus, and Streptomyces albulus) by genome shuffling. Then all the shuffled strains were suffered from an interspecific hybridization through stochastic protoplast fusion. One hybrid designated FEEL-1 was selected by morphology and spore color with ε-PL production of 1.12 g/L in shake flask, about 2.75-fold higher than that in wild types. The ε-PL production of FEEL-1 was then obtained as 24.5 g/L in fed-batch fermentation, which was 63–81 % higher than those in shuffled strains. Random amplified polymorphic DNA revealed that FEEL-1 was probably hybridized from S. padanus, S. griseofuscus, and S. albulus. Activities of several enzymes in FEEL-1 (hexokinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, aspartokinase, and citrate synthase) were more active than those in shuffled strains, which was a possible reason for the enhancement of ε-PL production. This research highlights the importance of genome shuffling along with interspecific hybridization as a new breeding strategy for improving phenotype of industrial strains.     

高活性MgO/SnO2复合金属氧化物催化剂的合成及在双氧水选择氧化环己酮制ε-己内酯反应中的应用

通过共沉淀法制备了一系列Mg基复合金属氧化物,采用X射线衍射（XRD）、热重（TG）以及N2 吸附（BET）等表征手段对催化剂的结构进行了表征,并研究了其对双氧水体系中环己酮Baeyer-Villiger氧化制己内酯的催化反应性能,考察了不同组成和配比的催化剂以及反应条件对催化活性的影响。结果表明,在以H2O2水溶液为氧化剂,苯甲腈和二氧六环混合溶液为溶剂时,复合金属氧化物MgO/SnO2体现出比MgO/La2O3、MgO/TiO2、MgO/ZnO、MgO/ZrO2等催化剂更优异的催化性能。同时发现金属摩尔比为7:3,焙烧温度为600℃ 的MgO/SnO2催化剂在优选反应条件下可使环己酮的最高转化率达90.5%,己内酯的选择性达到100%。     

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers: synthesis and characterisation

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers (PDMAEMA-g-PCL) with various compositions and molecular weights were synthesised via a fully controlled three-step strategy. First, poly(ε-caprolactone) macromonomers (PCLMA) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OⁱPr)₃), followed in a second step by quantitative esterification of PCL hydroxy end-groups with a methacrylic acid derivative. Finally, the controlled copolymerization of PCLMA and N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was carried out by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) in THF at 60 °C using CuBr ligated with 1,1,4,7,10,10, hexamethyl triethylenetetramine and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate as catalyst and initiator, respectively. Furthermore, PDMAEMA-g-PCL graft copolymers were reacted with methyl iodide to convert the pendant tertiary amines into quaternary ammonium iodides increasing accordingly their water solubility. Some preliminary experiments was further carried out by tensiometry and dynamic light scattering in order to shed so light on the tensioactive behaviour of these amphiphilic graft copolymers (with protonated amines or quaternary ammonium cations).     

Exhaustive degradation of the ring D of 3,20-epoxy ent-kaurane-type diterpene maoecrystal A

This study described a new approach for exhaustive degradation of the ring D of maoecrystal A (1), an ent-kaurane-type diterpene from Isodon eriocalyx, in seven steps mainly involving retro-aldol reaction, epoxylation, NaIO₄ oxidation, and Baeyer-Villiger process in a 19% overall yield.     

Synthesis and structure of poly(ε-caprolactone)/synthetic montmorillonite nano-intercalates

Bulk polymerisations of ε-caprolactone (CL) were conducted at 170 °C in the presence of catalytic traces of water and 10, 30 and 50 wt% of hydrated synthetic montmorillonite SOMASIF ME100 (M) without additional catalysts. In both cases a low molecular poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was produced (M_w = 5360-22,432). As revealed by ¹H NMR and GPC analyses the montmorillonite present in the system induced both significantly higher lactone hydrolysis and polymer chain growth rates. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) technique was applied to investigate the changes in clay stratification after swelling with monomer and after the polymerisation. The scattering peaks from clay (0 0 1) periodicity recorded for the silicate in dispersions and in the composites are shifted towards lower angles, which indicate an intercalation of CL as well as PCL in the galleries. Narrow intensity distribution of Bragg peaks recorded for both CL/M mixtures and resulting nano-intercalates testifies that the well ordered, layered structure of montmorillonite is retained in the silicate swollen with ε-caprolactone and after the polymerisation. The results suggest that PCL chains are flatly arranged onto each side of silicate platelet and they create pseudo-bilayers inside the silicate’s gallery.