Polymerization of aromatic monomers using derivatives of hematin

Abstract

Hematin, a hydroxyferriprotoporphyrin, is derivatized with one or more non-proteinaceous amphipathic groups. The derivatized hematin can serve as a mimic of horseradish peroxidase in polymerizing aromatic monomers, such as aromatic compounds. These derivatized hematins can also be used as catalysts in polymerizing aromatic monomers, and can exhibit significantly greater catalytic activity than underivatized hematin in acidic solutions. In one embodiment, polymerization is in the presence of a template, along which aromatic monomers align. An assembled hematin includes alternating layers of hematin and a polyelectrolyte, which are deposited on an electrically charged substrate. Assembled hematin can also be used to polymerize aromatic monomers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of polymerizing an aromatic monomer, comprising combining an aromatic monomer with a hematin catalyst, wherein the hematin catalyst has been derivatized with one or more non-proteinaceous amphipathic groups.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining a peroxide initiator with the aromatic monomer and the derivatized hematin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a template, wherein the aromatic monomer aligns along said template and polymerizes to form a complex comprising the polymerized aromatic monomer and the template.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the template is a polyelectrolyte.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polyelectrolyte is polyanionic.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polyanionic polyelectrolyte is poly(styrene sulfonic acid) or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the template is optically active.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the optically active template is an oligonucleotide or a polynucleic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the polynucleic acid is 2′-deoxyribonucleic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the template is lignin sulfonic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the template is dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the aromatic monomer is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic compound.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the aromatic compound is an aniline.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the aniline is 2-methoxy-5-methylaniline.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the aromatic compound is a phenol.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the complex formed is a water-soluble complex of a polyaniline and the template.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polyaniline is of the electrically-conducting emeraldine salt form.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the complex formed is a water-soluble complex of polyphenol and the template.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polymerized aromatic monomer complexed to the template has a macro-asymmetry.