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Biocatalytic Synthesis of Polyesters Using Enzymes

  • Biology and Materials Synthesis
  • Beyond Nature…Enzyme Catalysis
  • Published:
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Summary

Pig pancreas lipase-catalyzed polycondensation may be used under appropriate conditions to prepare polyesters having a high enough molecular weight to display useful properties. However, hydrolysis of activated ester end groups becomes a significant limiting factor if care is not taken to remove the alcohol released by the transesterification as it progresses, or if all accessible water bound to the enzyme is not removed prior to its being used. Even when a diester having a very good leaving group is used, equilibrium may be reached when the DP is still quite low, unless the alcohol formed by the transesterification is removed from the reaction mixture. The success of the reaction is also affected by a number of other factors such as the size of the monomers used, the temperature, and the stirring rate. Finally, stereoelective enzyme-catalyzed polycondensations using racemic monomers that are free of meso stereoisomers appear to offer an excellent entry into optically active polymers for use in separations and for the preparation of materials expected to have interesting optical properties.

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Authors
  1. Cary J. Morrow
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Morrow, C.J. Biocatalytic Synthesis of Polyesters Using Enzymes. MRS Bulletin 17, 43–47 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1557/S0883769400046650

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/S0883769400046650

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