Enzymes in polymer chemistry, 9. Polymerizable oligoesters from cholic acid via lipase catalyzed condensation reactions

Regioselective oligocondensation of cholic acid in the 3-position was achieved in organic solution in the presence of a lipase from Candida antarctica. Furthermore, a mixture of cholic acid, 11-methacryloylaminoundecanoic acid and the lipase resulted in the production of a radically polymerizable oligo(cholic acid ester) bearing exactly one methacrylic end group. This new monomer was polymerized radically yielding the corresponding comb-polymers bearing several cholic acid esters at the end of the side chains.