Synthesis and ring‐opening polymerizations of novel S‐glycooxazolines

A new 2‐oxazolines containing S‐galactosyl substituents linked to alkyl chains of different lengths; (S‐glycooxazoline) were prepared relatively in high yields. By using a 1:1 adduct of 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline and methyl triflate, as the initiator, the monomer was polymerized via ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) to give products with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. Homo‐ and copolymerization were performed, and the kinetics of these new S‐glycooxazolines in the ROP are investigated. After a quantitative deprotection, poly(2‐oxazoline)s having pendant carbohydrate were obtained. The interaction of the poly(S‐glycooxazoline) with RCA₁₂₀ lectin was investigated, the binding constant between glycopolymer and lectin was increased by 10² times compared with that of the monosaccharide (D ‐galactose). The in vivo expression of green fluorescent protein using the synthesized poly(S‐glycooxazoline)s as polymeric inducers in Escherichia coli host were performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010