Issue 43, 2016

Laccase-catalyzed controlled radical polymerization of N-vinylimidazole

Abstract

Laccase from Trametes versicolor is a multi-copper-containing oxidoreductase which was found to catalyze the polymerization of N-vinylimidazole under conditions of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in aqueous solution (pH 4, 100 mM acetate buffer) at ambient temperature by using sodium ascorbate as a reducing agent. The reaction followed first order kinetics and resulted in polymers with controlled number-average molecular weights (between 1660 and 9970 g mol−1) and relatively narrow, monomodal molecular weight distributions (Đ between 1.27 and 1.56) according to gel permeation chromatography. Purified polymers were also analyzed by mass spectrometry which revealed a Đ of 1.07. The enzyme could be separated quantitatively from the polymer, lowering the metal content of the purified polymers below the detection limit of ICP-OES of 9 ppb. The enzyme retained its polymerization activity for more than eight hours, but formed electrostatic complexes with the polymer and underwent conformational changes at the beginning of the reaction. Biocatalytic controlled radical polymerization allows the synthesis of poly(N-vinylimidazole) with a well-defined molecular weight. Such polymers will be useful building blocks in many applications, such as drug- and gene-delivery, fuel cell membranes and polyionic liquids.

Graphical abstract: Laccase-catalyzed controlled radical polymerization of N-vinylimidazole

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Jul 2016
Accepted
03 Oct 2016
First published
13 Oct 2016

Polym. Chem., 2016,7, 6617-6625

Laccase-catalyzed controlled radical polymerization of N-vinylimidazole

C. Fodor, B. Gajewska, O. Rifaie-Graham, E. A. Apebende, J. Pollard and N. Bruns, Polym. Chem., 2016, 7, 6617 DOI: 10.1039/C6PY01261B

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