Enzymatic synthesis and chemical recycling of poly(carbonate-urethane)

Novel enzymatically recyclable poly(carbonate-urethane) consisting of a diurethane moiety as a hard segment and a carbonate linkage as an enzymatically cleavable unit was prepared by the polycondensation of biodegradable diurethanediol and diethyl carbonate using lipase. The produced poly(carbonate-urethane) was readily transformed by lipase into the corresponding cyclic oligomers which were more easily repolymerized by lipase to produce a higher molecular weight poly(carbonate-urethane) than that of the parent poly(carbonate-urethane).     

New Strategy for Enzymatic Synthesis of High‐Molecular‐Weight Poly(butylene succinate) via Cyclic Oligomers

Summary: High‐molecular‐weight poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is prepared by the lipase‐catalyzed polymerization of dimethyl succinate and butane‐1,4‐diol via the formation of cyclic oligomers as a new strategy for the green production of bio‐based plastics. The cyclic oligomer is first produced by the lipase‐catalyzed condensation of dimethyl succinate and butane‐1,4‐diol in a dilute toluene solution using lipase from Candida antarctica, followed by the ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic oligomer in a more concentrated solution or in bulk with the same lipase to produce PBS with an of 130 000. On the other hand, PBS is produced with an of 45 000 by direct polycondensation.

The lipase‐catalyzed preparation of PBS by two routes.     

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF CYCLIC (ARYLENE PHOSPHONATE) OLIGOMERS

INTRODUCTIONThe use of cyclic oligomers as macrocyclic precursors for the preparation of high performance polymers byring-opening polymerization (ROP) has sparked much interest in recent years. It could produce a revolutionarychange in the preparation of advanced composite materials, and is of great importance in the polymerizationprocess yielding polymers such as the reinforced reactive injection model (RRIM) and the resin transfer model(RTM) etc. Within the last 10 years, the synthes…     

Enzymatic transformation of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates into repolymerizable oligomers directed towards chemical recycling

The enzymatic transformation into an oligomer was carried out with the objective of developing the chemical recycling of bacterial polyesters. Poly(R-3-hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), such as poly[(R-3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-12%(R-3-hydroxyhexanoate)] and poly[(R-3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-12%(R-3-hydroxyvalerate)], were degraded by granulated Candida antarctica lipase B immobilized on hydrophilic silica (lipase GCA) in a diluted organic solvent at 70 degrees C. The degradation products were cyclic oligomers having a molecular weight of a few hundreds. The obtained cyclic oligomer was readily repolymerized by the same lipase (lipase GCA) to produce the corresponding polyester in a concentrated solution. The cyclic oligomer was copolymerized with epsilon-caprolactone using lipase to produce the corresponding terpolymers having an Mw of 21,000. This is the first example of the enzymatic chemical recycling of bacterial PHAs using lipase. Poly(R-3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] was also degraded into the linear-type R-3HB monomer to trimer by P(3HB)-depolymerase (PHBDP) in phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. The degradation using PHBDP required a longer reaction time compared with the lipase-catalyzed degradation in organic solvent. The monomer composition of the oligomer depended on the origin of the PHBDP. The R-3HB monomer was predominately produced by PHBDP from Pseudomonas stutzeri, while the R-3HB dimer was produced by PHBDP from Alcaligenes faecalis T1. Repolymerization of these oligomers by lipase in concentrated organic solvent produced a relatively low-molecular-weight P(3HB) (e.g., Mw=2,000). Degradation of P(3HB) by lipase in organic solvent into repolymerizable cyclic oligomer and degradation of P(3HB) by PHBDP in buffer into hydroxy acid type R-3HB dimer.     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Polyesters

This article summarizes the enzyme‐catalyzed synthesis and chemical recycling of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and poly(carbonate ester)s directed towards establishing green polymer chemistry. Lipase catalyzes the condensation polymerization of a hydroxy acid, diacid with diol, diacid anhydride with oxirane, and polyanhydride with diol, or the ring‐opening polymerization of lactones of small to large rings, and a cyclic diester to produce the corresponding polyesters. Also, lipase catalyzes the condensation polymerization of a dialkyl carbonate with diol, and the ring‐opening polymerization of a cyclic carbonate to produce the corresponding polycarbonates. These polyesters and polycarbonates were selectively degraded by lipase to produce repolymerizable oligomers. These chemical recycling systems using an enzyme will establish a novel methodology for sustainable polymer recycling. Finally, current trends in green polymer production using enzymes are discussed.     

Cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety

A series of cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety has been synthesized by reaction of bis(4-fluorophenyl)phenylphosphineoxide with dihydroxy compounds 1a–d as well as 1,2-dihydro-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) (2H)phthalazin-1-one in DMF in the presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃ under high dilution conditions. These cyclic oligomers are amorphous and have high solubility in organic solvents. The MALDI-TOF-MS technique has been used as a powerful tool to analyze these cyclic systems. The cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers readily undergo anionic ring-opening polymerization in the melt at 350°C by using potassium 4,4′-biphenoxide as the initiator, affording linear, high molecular weight poly(arylene ether)s containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 519–526, 1998     

Properties and Polymerization of Biodegradable Thermoplastic Poly(Ester-urethane)

Abstract

Aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(lactic acids), need high molecular weight for acceptable mechanical properties. This can be achieved through ring-opening polymerization of lactides. The lactide route is, however, relatively complicated, and alternative polymerization routes are of interest. In this paper we report the properties of a polymer made by a two-step process: first a condensation polymerization of lactic acid and then an increase of the molecular weight with diisocyanate. The end product is then a thermoplastic poly(ester-urethane). The hydroxylterminated prepolymer was made with condensation polymerization of L–lactic acid and a small amount of 1,4-butanediol. The polymerization was performed in the melt under nitrogen and reduced pressure. The preparation of poly(ester-urethane) was done in the melt using aliphatic diisocyanates as the chain extenders reacting with the end groups of the prepolymer. The polymer samples were carefully characterized, including preliminary degradation studies. The results indicate that this route to convert lactic acid into thermoplastic biodegradable polymer has high potential. Lactic acid is converted into a mechanically attractive polymer with high yield, which could make the polymer suitable for high volume applications. The mechanical properties of the poly(ester-urethane) are comparable with those of poly(lactides). Capillary rheometer measurements indicate that the polymer is processible both by injection molding and extrusion.     

New alternating poly(amide-ester)S: Synthesis and properties

New alternating poly(amide-ester)s derived from β-hydroxy acids and α-amino acids 3a,b or ϵ-aminocaproic acid 4a-c were prepared. Two approaches were considered: (i) polycondensation of N-(β-hydroxyacyl)-amino acids 1a,b and 2b,c and (ii) ring-opening polymerization of cyclic amide-esters 5a-c and 6a-c . For all the linear precursors polycondensation reactions result in oligomers with number average molecular weights lower than 5000. The ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic precursors is substrate specific and is sensitive to changes in the polymerization conditions. For N-(3-hydroxybutyroyl)-ϵ-aminocaproic acid lactone [c(3HB-ϵAC); 5b ] (IUPAC nomenclature: 2-methyl-5-aza-1-oxa-cycloundecan-4,11-dione) bulk and solution polymerizations result in oligomers with an alternating ester amide microstructure. Polymerization of N-(3-hydroxypropionyl)-ϵ-aminocaproic acid lactone [c(3HP-ϵAC); 5a ] (IUPAC nomenclature: 5-aza-1-oxa-cycloundecan-4-11-dione) in dimethylformamide solution and with Bu₂Sn(OMe)₂ as initiator high molecular weight linear, semi-crystalline polymers were obtained (T_m = 145.9°C). Polymerization of N-(hydroxypivaloyl)-ϵ-aminocaproic acid lactone [c(HPv-ϵAC); 5c ] (IUPAC nomenclature: 3,3-dimethyl-5-aza-1-oxa-cycloundecan-4-11-dione) in bulk results in amorphous alternating poly(amide-ester)s with cyclic structure (T_g = 6.8°C). The fourteen membered cyclo(diamide-diester)s 6a-c (IUPAC nomenclatures:: 4,11-diaza-1,8-dioxa-cyclotetradecan-2,5,9,12-tetraone ( 6a ), 7,14 dimethyl-4,11-diaza-1,8-dioxa-cyclotetradecan-2,5,9,12-tetraone ( 6b ), 3,10-dimethyl-4,11-diaza-1,8-dioxa-cyclotetradecan-2,5,9,12-tetraone ( 6c ) based on β-hydroxy acids and α-aminoacids could not be polymerized.     

Synthesis and ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic aryl ester dimers

Two kinds of cyclic aryl ester dimers have been synthesized by reaction of phthaloyl dichloride with bisphenols via interfacial polycondensation. The cyclic dimers readily undergo anionic ring-opening polymerization or copolymerization in the melt by using sodium benzoate as the initiator, producing linear, high molecular weight polyesters. The contents of cyclic dimers in the homopolymers P1, P2, and copolymer P12 are 13.7%, 10.2%, 2.9%, respectively, which indicates that ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic dimers may impel the conversion of cyclic dimers and decrease the content of cyclic dimers in the resulting copolymer. Moreover, the isothermal chemorheology of the ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic dimers indicates that the reactivemoltenmixture has low shear viscosity and the viscosity increases slowly in the initial stage of ring-opening polymerization.     

亲电缩聚反应合成芳香环状低聚醚酮砜及其开环聚合

"假高稀"条件下,以邻苯二酰氯为酰基化试剂,Lewis碱NMP存在下,通过亲电缩聚反应高产率地合成了2种芳香环状聚醚酮砜低聚物,利用MALDI-TOF-MS,NMR,GPC,FTIR,DSC等手段对环状结构进行了精确的表征.在负离子引发剂联苯双酚钾存在下,环状低聚物3a进行熔融开环聚合,得到了高分子量的线型聚合物,Tg为221.8℃.利用流变仪监测了环状低聚物3a开环聚合过程中的流变行为,结果表明,开环聚合初期的引发阶段,熔融体的黏度低于10Pa.s,随着时间的延长,黏度快速增长,而且低黏度的引发阶段随着引发剂浓度的增加而变短.     

Lipase‐Catalyzed transformation of Poly(trimethylene carbonate) into Cyclic Monomer,Trimethylene Carbonate: A New Strategy for Sustainable Polymer Recycling Using an Enzyme

The enzymatic degradation and polymerization using an enzyme were carried out with respect to the establishment of a sustainable chemical recycling system for poly(trimethylene carbonate) [P(TMC)] which is a potentially biodegradable synthetic plastic. The enzymatic transformation of P(TMC)s having an M_n of 3000~48000 using Candida antarctica lipase (lipase CA) in acetonitrile at 70 °C afforded the corresponding cyclic monomer, trimethylene carbonate (TMC: 1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one), in a yield of up to 80%. Thus obtained TMC readily polymerized again using both fresh lipase CA and recovered lipase CA.     

Tetrabutylammonium Halides as Selectively Bifunctional Catalysts Enabling the Syntheses of Recyclable High Molecular Weight Salicylic Acid-Based Copolyesters

To synthesize high molecular weight poly(phenolic ester) via a living ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic phenolic ester monomers remains a critical challenge due to serious transesterification and back-biting reactions. Both phenolic ester bonds in monomer and polymer chains are highly active, and it is difficult so far to distinguish them. In this work, an unprecedented selectively bifunctional catalytic system of tetra-n-butylammonium chloride (TBACl) was discovered to mediate the syntheses of high molecular weight salicylic acid-based copolyesters via a living ROP of salicylate cyclic esters (for poly(salicylic methyl glycolide) (PSMG), M_n=361.8 kg/mol, Ð<1.30). Compared to previous catalysis systems, the side reactions were suppressed remarkably in this catalysis system because phenolic ester bond in monomer can be selectively cleaved over that in polymer chains during ROP progress. Mechanistic studies reveal that the halide anion and alkyl-quaternaryammonium cation work synergistically, where the alkyl-quaternaryammonium cation moiety interacts with the carbonyl group of substrates via non-classical hydrogen bonding. Moreover, these salicylic acid-based copolyesters can be recycled to dimeric monomer under solution condition, and can be recycled to original monomeric monomers without catalyst under sublimation condition.     

Inductive effect-assisted chain-growth polycondensation. synthetic development from para- to meta-substituted aromatic polyamides with low polydispersities

The polycondensation of m-(octylamino)benzoic acid esters (1) with base was investigated in order to extend the synthesis of well-defined condensation polymers from para-substituted polymers to meta-substituted ones. We expected that the aminyl anion of 2 would deactivate the ester moiety at the meta position of 2 owing to the strong inductive effect of the anion, resulting in, not self-polycondensation, but chain-growth polycondensation. The methyl ester monomer 1a polymerized with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) in the presence of phenyl benzoate (3a) as an initiator at 0 degrees C to afford a polymer with a low polydispersity, but the product contained a small amount of self-condensation polymer. On the other hand, the polymerization of the ethyl ester monomer (1b) with phenyl 4-methylbenzoate (3b) proceeded through chain polymerization without self-polycondensation. The Mn values of the polymers increased linearly in proportion to the [1b]0/[3b]0 ratio, and the Mw/Mn ratios remained narrow over the entire [1b]0/[3b]0 range. Furthermore, a block copolymer of N-alkylated poly(m-benzamide) and poly(p-benzamide) with a low polydispersity was synthesized by the monomer addition method under this polymerization condition.     

生物可降解性聚羟基脂肪酸酯的化学合成研究进展

聚羟基脂肪酸酯是一种新型合成的脂肪族聚酯,同聚乳酸相似,具有优异的生物相容性能、生物可降解性和优良的力学机械性能,可作为生物医用材料和生物可降解包装材料,是最具前景的环境友好型聚合材料之一。目前合成聚乳酸和聚羟基脂肪酸酯的化学方法主要有开环聚合法、直接缩聚法以及自身酯交换聚合法,不过后者研究得较少。本文对这3种方法的研究进展进行了叙述,重点讨论了开环聚合法和直接缩聚法,尤其对开环聚合中的配位插入聚合的新进展进行了较详细的论述。     

Degradable polyesters through chain linking for packaging and biomedical applications

The major route to convert lactic acid to high-molecular-weight polymers is ring-opening polymerization of lactide. We have investigated alternative synthesis routes based on oligomerization and chain linking to produce high-molecular-weight thermoplastic degradable polymers cost-effectively. Chain linking also offers new possibilities to prepare degradable polyesters for biomedical applications by extending the range of polymer properties achievable. In this paper, we briefly review different chain linking techniques used in our laboratory. Typically, lactic acid prepolymers with molecular weights of around 3,000-15,000 g x mol(-1) have been prepared by direct polycondensation. Hydroxyl terminated oligomers have been chain linked by using diisocyanate coupling agents, preferably 1,4-butane diisocyanate, forming poly(ester-urethanes). Poly(ester-amides) have been prepared by using 2,2'-bis(2-oxazoline) as coupling agent for carboxylic acid telechelic oligomers. Chain linking by end functionalization has been used in the preparation of poly(ester-anhydrides). In addition, a variety of crosslinked degradable polymers and copolymers have been synthesized through different crosslinking routes, by using methacrylic, itaconic or maleic double bonds or triethoxysilane moieties. A biodegradation test and ecotoxicological evaluation of the degradation products were carried out in addition to hydrolysis tests. Lactic acid based chain linked polymers were biodegradable and the degradation products were harmless. In hydrolysis tests, enzymatic degradation was pronounced in the chain linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone).     

Unexpected Interactions of an Alternating Poly(ether-ester) with Artificial and Biological Bilipidic Membranes

Summary: The anionic polymerization of a spiro monomer containing both an ester-activated cyclopropane moiety and a 1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclohexadecane-14,16-dione crown ether bislactone unexpectedly yielded a linear alternating poly(ether-ester) via the ring-opening polymerization of the crown ether cycle. Ion conductivity measurements using black lipid membranes as model systems showed that oligomers of this structure are able to permeabilize bilipidic membranes, with single-ion channel behaviors being observed. Biological assays on fibroblast cells indicated a significant cytotoxicity, probably related to the above permeabilization mechanism.     

Lipase-catalyzed transformation of poly(lactic acid) into cyclic oligomers

Enzymatic transformations into cyclic oligomers were carried out with the objective of developing chemical recycling of poly(lactic acid)s, such as poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA), poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), which are typical biodegradable polymers. They were degraded by lipase in an organic solvent to produce the corresponding cyclic oligomer with a molecular weight of several hundreds. PDLLA (with a Mw of 84,000) was quantitatively transformed into cyclic oligomers by lipase RM (Lipozyme RM IM) in chloroform/hexane at 60 degrees C. PLLA (with a Mw of 120,000) was transformed into cyclic oligomer by lipase CA (Novozym 435) at a higher temperature of 100 degrees C in o-xylene. The oligomer structure was identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight) mass spectrometry.     

Novel lipase-catalyzed ring-opening copolymerization of oxiranes and dicarboxylic anhydride forming polyesters bearing carboxyl groups and their physicochemical properties and biodegradability

Oxiranes, such as benzyl glycidate and glycidyl phenyl ether, were copolymerized with dicarboxylic anhydride by lipase at a temperature between 60 and 80 °C to yield the corresponding polyesters bearing carboxyl or phenyl groups. Bulk polymerization, especially at 80 °C, and preferably using porcine pancreatic lipase, gave biodegradable polyesters with a molecular weight of greater than 10000. Poly(sodium carboxylate)s containing ester linkages in the backbone prepared in this study were readily biodegradable by the activated sludge and exhibited a calcium ion sequestration capacity.     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Transformation of Unnatural‐Type Poly(3‐hydroxybutanoate) into Reactive Cyclic Oligomer

Unnatural‐type syndiotactic and atactic poly[(R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutanoate]s [P(3HB)s] were enzymatically transformed into a reactive cyclic 3HB oligomer of molecular weight ca. 500 in an organic solvent, such as toluene, using immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica at 40°C for 24 h. It was confirmed that similar results were obtained for both syndiotactic and atactic P(3HB)s. On the other hand, the acidic degradation of these polymers using a protonic acid, such as p‐toluenesulfonic acid, exclusively produced the linear 3HB oligomer instead of the cyclic oligomer. The formation of the cyclic oligomer was regarded as the characteristic feature of the lipase‐catalyzed degradation in organic media. The cyclic oligomer obtained readily reacted with alcohol as a nucleophile, and using lipase, to produce the alkyl ester of the 3HB oligomer.     

Biodegradable Poly(ester hydrazide)s via Enzymatic Polymerization

Summary: The reaction of hydrazine with ethyl glycolate results in 1,2‐bisglycoylhydrazine, a monomer that was used for the lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of biodegradable poly(ester hydrazide)s. The polymers derived from the hydrazide‐containing monomer and vinyl‐activated adipic, suberic, and sebacic acid, respectively, showed low melting temperatures of 136 to 141 °C and are thermally stable up to 300 °C. The aliphatic poly(ester hydrazide)s (PEHs) are highly crystalline, as proven by polarization microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Further, the PEHs represent the first described biodegradable poly(hydrazide)s. They degrade in the presence of lipase at 37 °C within a few weeks.

Synthetic route to poly(ester hydrazide)s.