Esterolytic activity of imidazole-containing polymers. Hydrophobic influences in copoly[1-alkyl-4- or 5-vinylimidazole/4(5)-vinylimidazole]-catalyzed hydrolysis of 3-nitro-4-acyloxybenzoic acids

Water-soluble copolymers containing imidazole and N-alkylated imidazole pendant groups have been synthesized in order to investigate the hydrophobic interactions between polymeric catalysts and long alkyl chain ester substrates. Copoly[1-methyl-4-vinyl-imidazole/4(5)-vinylimidazole],copoly[1-methyl-5-vinylimidazole/4(5)-vinylimidazole], copoly[1-ethyl-5-vinylimidazole/4-(5)-vinyl-imidazole] and copoly[1-propyl-5-vinylimidazole/4(5)-vinylimidazole] were synthesized and their catalytic activity toward 3-nitro-4-acyloxybenzoic acid substrates (S_n^?) was determined in 28.5% ethanol–water and in water and compared with that of the mixtures of homopolymers. Hydrophobic interactions were important for rate enhancement of the hydrolysis of long-chain ester substrates compared to that of short-chain ester substrates. The copolymers catalyzed the hydrolysis of 3-nitro-4-dodecanoyloxy-benzoic acid (S₁₂^?) about two times faster than the mixtures at pH 7.11 in 28.5% ethanol–water. The hydrolysis of S₁₂^? by the copolymers was about five times faster in water than 28.5% ethanol–water.