Thermoresponsive polyacrylates obtained via a cascade of enzymatic transacylation and FRP or NMP

Abstract

Following a cascade reaction comprising enzymatic monomer synthesis and radical polymerization, different functional poly(acrylate)s were obtained. Transacylation of methyl acrylate (MA) with diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1,2-propanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol in the presence of Novozyme 435 led to functional acrylate monomers. In a subsequent step, after filtration of the enzyme, removal of MA by distillation and eventual addition of a hydrophilic co-monomer, (2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, HEA), the mixture was copolymerized via free radical and nitroxide mediated polymerization resulting in poly(acrylate)s with predefined functionalities. Furthermore the thermoresponsive properties of the resulting copolymers are discussed with respect to the polymer composition and the molecular weight distribution.