High‐Molecular‐Weight Polynucleotides by Transferase‐Catalyzed Living Chain‐Growth Polycondensation

We present terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐catalyzed enzymatic polymerization (TcEP) for the template‐free synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight, single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) and demonstrate that it proceeds by a living chain‐growth polycondensation mechanism. We show that the molecular weight of the reaction products is nearly monodisperse, and can be manipulated by the feed ratio of nucleotide (monomer) to oligonucleotide (initiator), as typically observed for living polymerization reactions. Understanding the synthesis mechanism and the reaction kinetics enables the rational, template‐free synthesis of ssDNA that can be used for a range of biomedical and nanotechnology applications.     

气态单体活性聚合动力学——“活性聚合”教学内容的补充

活性聚合的教学内容在高分子化学课程中占有重要的地位。对气态单体参与的活性聚合动力学进行了补充,丰富了活性聚合的教学内容,并加深了学生对活性聚合的认识。     

Living carbocationic polymerization. LXII. Living polymerization of styrene,p-methylstyrene and p-chlorostyrene induced by the common ion effect

The effect of common anion producing salt, tetrabutylammonium chloride (n-Bu₄NCl), on the livingness and kinetics of styrene (St), p-chlorostyrene (pClSt), and p-methylstyrene (pMeSt) polymerization initiated by the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl)/TiCl₄ system has been investigated. Uncontrolled (conventional) carbocationic polymerization of St and p MeSt can be converted to living polymerization by the use of n-Bu₄NCl. Under similar conditions the polymerization of p ClSt is living even in the absence of n-Bu₄NCl, although the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer becomes narrower in the presence of this salt. The apparent rates of polymerizations decrease in the presence of n-Bu₄NCl in proportion with the concentration of the salt. The rate of living polymerization of p ClSt is noticeably lower than that of St, while that of p MeSt is higher. The apparent rate constants, k_p^A, of these polymerizations have been determined, and the effects of the electron donating p Me- and electron withdrawing p Cl-substituents relative to the rate of St polymerization have been analyzed. [For part LXI, see J. Si and J. P. Kennedy, Polym. Bull., 33 , 651 (1994)]. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3341–3347, 1997     

Direct Comparison of the Reactivity of Model Complexes for Compounds 0, I,and II in Oxygenation,Hydrogen‐Abstraction,and Hydride‐Transfer Processes

The iron(III) meso‐tetramesitylporphyrin complex is a good biomimetic to study the catalytic reactions of cytochrome P450. All of the three most discussed reactive intermediates concerning P450 catalysis (namely, Cpd 0, Cpd I, and Cpd II) can be selectively produced, identified, and stabilized for many minutes in solution at low temperature by choosing appropriate reaction conditions. In this way, their reactivity against various substrates was determined by utilizing low‐temperature rapid‐scan UV/Vis spectroscopy. Since all reactive intermediates are derived from a single model complex, the results of these kinetic measurements provide for the first time a full comparability of the determined rate constants for the three intermediates. The rate constants reveal a significant dependence of the reactivity on the type of reaction (e.g., oxygenation, hydrogen abstraction, or hydride transfer), which closely correlates with the chemical nature of Cpds 0, I, and II. The detailed knowledge of the reactivity of these intermediates provides a valuable tool to evaluate their particular role in biological systems.     

Spectroscopic and Mechanistic Studies on Oxidation Reactions Catalyzed by the Functional Model SR Complex for Cytochrome P450: Influence of Oxidant,Substrate, and Solvent

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the formation of an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radical bearing a thiolate group as proximal ligand are reported. The SR complex, a functional enzyme mimic of P450, was oxidized in peroxo‐shunt reactions under different experimental conditions with variation of solvent, temperature, and identity and excess of oxidant in the presence of different organic substrates. Through the application of a low‐temperature rapid‐scan stopped‐flow technique, the reactive intermediates in the SR catalytic cycle, such as the initially formed SR acylperoxoiron(III) complex and the SR high‐valent iron(IV) porphyrin cation radical complex [( SR ^.+)Fe^IV?O], were successfully identified and kinetically characterized. The oxidation of the SR complex under catalytic conditions provided direct spectroscopic information on the reactivity of [( SR ^.+)Fe^IV?O] towards the oxidation of selected organic substrates. Because the catalytically active species is a synthetic oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radical bearing a thiolate proximal group, the effect of the strong electron donor ligand on the formation and reactivity/stability of the SR high‐valent iron species is addressed and discussed in the light of the reactivity pattern observed in substrate oxygenation reactions catalyzed by native P450 enzyme systems.     

Electron Tunneling Rates in Respiratory Complex I Are Tuned for Efficient Energy Conversion

Respiratory complex I converts the free energy of ubiquinone reduction by NADH into a proton motive force, a redox reaction catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide(FMN) and a chain of seven iron–sulfur centers. Electron transfer rates between the centers were determined by ultrafast freeze‐quenching and analysis by EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The complex rapidly oxidizes three NADH molecules. The electron‐tunneling rate between the most distant centers in the middle of the chain depends on the redox state of center N2 at the end of the chain, and is sixfold slower when N2 is reduced. The conformational changes that accompany reduction of N2 decrease the electronic coupling of the longest electron‐tunneling step. The chain of iron–sulfur centers is not just a simple electron‐conducting wire; it regulates the electron‐tunneling rate synchronizing it with conformation‐mediated proton pumping, enabling efficient energy conversion. Synchronization of rates is a principle means of enhancing the specificity of enzymatic reactions.     

The Effect of [CuI]/[CuII] Ratio on the Kinetics and Conformation of Polyelectrolyte Brushes by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: The atom transfer radical polymerization of [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (METAC) has been studied under different [Cu^I]/[Cu^II] ratios. The reaction kinetics is followed by ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance and it was found that the reaction speed influences the grafting density of the polymer brushes. High [Cu^I]/[Cu^II] ratios, i.e., fast polymerizations, lead to less dense polymer brushes.

Plot of the frequency change of wet brushes on a QCM crystal (Δf) versus the dry thickness of brushes synthesized at different [Cu^I]/[Cu^II] ratios.     

High activity of enzymes immobilized in colloidal nanoreactors

We present a novel type of nanoreactor suitable for the immobilization of enzymes. The particles used consist of a polystyrene core onto which long chains of poly(acrylic acid) are grafted ("spherical polyelectrolyte brush"). Proteins adsorbed spontaneously onto these particles from aqueous solutions if the ionic strength is low. We immobilized glucoamylase on these particles and showed that this enzyme keeps nearly its full activity. This is shown by analyzing the enzymatic activity in terms of the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. No leaching out of the enzyme takes place during the reaction and the colloidal stability is not impeded by the adsorbed biomolecules. The data presented here suggest that the principle of immobilizing enzymes on these particles may be of general use.The Figure shows a schematic representation of the colloidal nanoreactors.     

活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯活性链和溴甲基化聚苯乙烯偶合反应制备接枝共聚物

采用基团转移聚合、阴离子聚合以及高分子偶合反应的方法，合成了一种结构明确、链长均匀、分子量可控的聚苯乙烯接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯。主链聚苯乙烯由阴离子聚合得到，并进行溴甲基化。支链活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯由基团转移聚合制备。经偶合反应后得到分子量为３×１０４～７×１０４、多分散性指数Ｄ为１．２～１．４的接枝共聚物。用１ＨＮＭＲ，ＧＰＣ和ＤＳＣ表征接枝产物。和均聚物相比，共聚物的玻璃化温度较低。     

Mechanism Equivalence in Enzyme–Substrate Reactions: Distributed Differential Delay in Enzyme Kinetics

We consider single enzyme–substrate reaction mechanisms involving multiple complexes and demonstrate that these are equivalent to a distributed delay system without complexes. The distribution of the delay is determined by the number of intermediates and the relative sizes of the rates of the individual reaction mechanisms. We also consider the limit where there are a large number of intermediate complexes, and the conditions under which a number of known reaction mechanisms are equivalent. The present formalism brings forth new perspectives in the implementation of experimental techniques to rule out particular reaction mechanisms by studying the distribution of the delay between reactant mixing and product formation.     

Polymerization of butyl acrylate in anionic microemulsion

Butyl acrylate was initiated with KPS or BPO to polymerize at high monomer concentration in the microemulsions with SBOA (sodium 12-butinoyloxy-9-octadecenate) as emulsifier. The microemulsion remained clear or reddish. It was found that the constant polymerization period appeared in most microemulsions and the length of it varied with the concentration of monomer and the initiating rate. When microemulsions were initiated with KPS, the overall polymerization rate increased with the emulsifier concentration; while initiator was BPO, it showed the inverse tendency. It was attributed to the difference between the initiating mechanism of the two initiators. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和溴甲基化聚苯乙烯偶合反应制备接枝共聚物

采用基团转移聚合、阴离子聚合以及高分子偶合反应的方法,合成了一种结构明确、链长均匀和分子量可控的聚苯乙烯接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯。主链聚苯乙烯由阴离子聚合得到,并进行溴甲基化。支链活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯由基团转移聚合制备。经偶合反应后得到分子量为3×10⁴～7×10⁴、多分散性指数D为1.2～1.4的接枝共聚物。溴甲基化聚苯乙烯和活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯的偶合反应活性随分子量的增大而降低,理想的反应温度为-20℃。用¹HNMR、GPC和DSC表征接枝产物。和均聚物相比,共聚物的玻璃化温度较低。     

Acceleration and Selective Monomer Addition during Aqueous RAFT Copolymerization of Ionic Monomers at 25 °C

An acceleration effect and selective monomer addition during RAFT copolymerization of the oppositely‐charged ionic monomers in dilute aqueous solution at 25 °C are reported. The reaction is conducted using a non‐ionic water‐soluble polymer as a macromolecular chain transfer agent under visible light irradiation. A fast iterative polymerization can be induced, even in dilute solution, by the favorable ionic interactions and in situ self‐assembly of zwitterionic growing chains. Selelctive monomer addition is achieved in the statistical copolymerization due to the ion‐pairing of the oppositely‐charged monomers, such as precisely the same reaction rates at a 1:1 of monomer ratio, otherwise a faster reaction of the minor monomer component over the major one. These behaviors open up an avenue towards the rapid synthesis of sequence‐controlled zwitterionic polyelectrolytes that can satisfy the demands of emerging biological applications.

     

Nonaqueous Emulsion Polycondensation Enabled by a Self-Assembled Cage-like Surfactant

Nonaqueous emulsions are crucial for a range of applications based on water-sensitive systems such as controlled polymerizations requiring anhydrous reaction conditions and the stabilization of readily hydrolyzable reagents or pharmacologically active components. However, defined molecular surfactants to stabilize such nonaqueous emulsions are scarce. We introduce a self-assembled coordination cage, decorated with cholesterol functionalities, to serve as a molecular surfactant for various oil-in-oil emulsions of immiscible organic solvents. While the positively charged cage forms the amphiphile's polar moiety, the non-polar cholesterol appendices can bend in a common direction to stabilize the emulsion. Templated by the droplets, polycondensation reactions were carried out to produce microstructured polyurethane and polyurea materials of different particle sizes and morphologies. Further, the amphiphilic cage can encapsulate a guest molecule and the resulting host-guest assembly was also examined as a surfactant. In addition, the aggregation behavior of the amphiphilic cage in an aqueous medium was examined.     

Activation of alkyl halides at the Cu0 surface in SARA ATRP: An assessment of reaction order and surface mechanisms

The external order in reagents for the activation of alkyl halides by Cu⁰ was investigated in supplemental activator and reducing agents (SARA) ATRP. Using methyl 2-bromopropionate (MBrP) or ethyl α-bromophenylacetate (EBPA) and tris(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₆TREN) in DMSO and MeCN, it was determined that the rate of activation scaled with (S/V)^0.9 in both solvents. For MBrP, the rate was first order with respect to [MBrP]₀ until a saturation in the rate was observed around 33 and 110 mM in DMSO and MeCN, respectively. For EBPA, the reaction was also first order until a maximum rate was observed at 33 mM in DMSO, whereas an inverse order was observed for concentrations above 66 mM in MeCN. At saturated concentrations of MBrP, it was found that the rate increased linearly with respect to [Me₆TREN]₀ for all systems but became asymptotic with a maximum rate of 2 × 10⁻⁶ and 4 × 10⁻⁵ M s⁻¹ in DMSO and MeCN, respectively. Model polymerizations in the absence of ligand showed slow reaction rates, indicating the necessity for ligand. The results allow more accurate modeling and understanding of SARA ATRP under a large range of initiator concentrations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3048–3057