Volume 252, 2024

On the biocatalytic synthesis of silicone polymers

Abstract

Polysiloxanes, with poly(dimethyl)siloxane (PDMS) being the most common example, are widely used in various industrial and consumer applications due to the physicochemical properties imparted by their Si–O–Si backbone structure. The conventional synthesis of PDMS involves the hydrolysis of dichlorodimethylsilane, which raises environmental concerns due to the usage of chlorinated compounds. Herein, a biocatalytic approach for PDMS synthesis is demonstrated using silicatein-α (Silα), an enzyme from marine sponges that is known to catalyse the hydrolysis and condensation of Si–O bonds. Using dialkoxysilane precursors, it was found that Silα catalyses the formation of PDMS in non-aqueous media, yielding polymers with higher molecular weights (approximately 1000–2000 Da). However, on prolonged exposure, the gradual degradation of the polymers was also observed. Overall these observations indicate that Silα catalyses the formation polysiloxanes, demonstrating the potential of biocatalysis for more sustainable polysiloxane production.

Graphical abstract: On the biocatalytic synthesis of silicone polymers

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Jan 2024
Accepted
13 Feb 2024
First published
13 Feb 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Faraday Discuss., 2024,252, 422-430

On the biocatalytic synthesis of silicone polymers

Y. Lu and L. S. Wong, Faraday Discuss., 2024, 252, 422 DOI: 10.1039/D4FD00003J

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