Lipase-catalyzed transesterifications to regulate copolymer structure
OwnerRichard A. Gross, Ajay Kumarinventors
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Abstract
A method to regulate copolymer structure using lipase catalyzed transesterification reactions, by selecting a first reactant from the group consisting of polymers and monomers, selecting a second reactant from the group consisting of polymers and monomers, and combining the first reactant, the second reactant, and a lipase in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to proceed resulting in a polymer. The method allows one to regulate the copolymer repeat unit sequence distribution, and may take place with chain-length specificity such that activation of chains for exchange reactions with other chains or monomers can occur preferentially at certain locations along the chain.
Claims48
A method to regulate copolymer structure using lipase catalyzed transesterification reactions, comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a first reactant from the group consisting of polymers and monomers;
- b. selecting a second reactant also from the group consisting of polymers and monomers;
- and
- c. combining the first reactant, the second reactant, and a lipase in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to proceed resulting in a copolymer,
- wherein the ensuing transesterification reaction occurs between and not at the terminal ends of at least one of the first reactant and the second reactant.
A method to tailor polymer structure using lipase catalyzed transesterification reactions, comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a first reactant from the group consisting of trimethylene carbonate, ε-caprolactone, β-butyrolactone, β-propiolactone, δ-butyrolactone, benzylmalanolactone, dioxanone, dodecalactone, ω-pentadecalactone, undecalactone, α-methyl valerolactone, valerolactone, 8-octanolide, and polymers with chain structures;
- b. selecting a second reactant from the group consisting of trimethylene carbonate, ε-caprolactone, β-butyrolactone, β-propiolactone, δ-butyrolactone, benzylmalanolactone, dioxanone, dodecalactone, ω-pentadecalactone, undecalactone, α-methyl valerolactone, valerolactone, 8-octanolide, and polymers with chain structures;
- and
- c. combining the first reactant, the second reactant, a lipase, and a solvent in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to proceed by chain reaction resulting in a copolymer,
- wherein the ensuing transesterification reaction occurs between the terminal ends of at least one of the first reactant and the second reactant.
A method to tailor polymer structure using lipase catalyzed transesterification reactions, comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a first reactant from the group consisting of lactones, cyclic carbonates, and combinations thereof;
- b. selecting a second reactant from the group consisting of lactones, cyclic carbonates, and combinations thereof;
- c. selecting a lipase from the group consisting of an immobilized form of Candida antarctica lipase B, immobilized lipase PS from Pseudomonas fluorescens, immobilized lipase PC from Pseudomonas oepacia, lipase PA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lipase from Porcine Pancreas (PPL), Candida cylindreacea (CCL), Candida rugosa (CR), Penicillium roqueforti (PR), Aspergillus niger (AK), and Lypozyme IM from Mucor miehei;
- and
- d. combining the first reactant, the second reactant, the lipase, and a solvent in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to proceed by chain reaction resulting in a copolymer,
- wherein the transesterification reaction occurs by the activation of a chain carbonyl by the lipase-catalyzed cleavage of an interchain functional group between the terminal ends of at least one of the first reactant and the second reactant.
A method for tailoring polymers using lipase comprising:
- a. selecting a first reactant that is a preformed polymer;
- b. selecting a second reactant selected from the group consisting of polymers and monomers;
- c. combining the first reactant, the second reactant, a lipase, and a solvent in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to occur between and not at the terminal ends of the first reactant and proceed by chain reaction resulting in a copolymer comprising the first reactant and the second reactant.
A method for tailoring polymers using lipase comprising:
- a. selecting a first reactant that is a preformed polymer having a chain structure selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and combinations thereof;
- b. selecting a second reactant that also is a preformed polymer having a chain structure selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and combinations thereof;
- c. combining the first reactant, the second reactant, a lipase, and a solvent in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to occur between and not at the terminal ends of the first reactant and proceed by chain reaction resulting in a copolymer comprising the first reactant and the second reactant,
- wherein the lipase activates an atom between the terminal ends of the chain of the first reactant and the activated atom reacts the terminal end of the second reactant and the ensuing transesterification reaction occurs at an interchain functional group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.