Enzymatic Synthesis of Polymers

Abstract

The invention relates to new methods of enzymatic synthesis of polymers such as polyorganosilicones and polyesters, and new polymers made by these methods.

1 . A method of synthesizing a polyorganosilicone polymer or an alkylene glycol-based polyester polymer, the method comprising:
 mixing linear or cyclic monomers, oligomers, macromers, or a combination thereof to form a monomer mixture, wherein the monomer mixture comprises monomers that can produce a polyorganosilicone or alkylene glycol-based polyester;   adding a lipase, esterase, or protease to the monomer mixture to form a reaction mixture; and   reacting the reaction mixture for a time and under polymerizing conditions suitable to obtain a polyorganosilicone polymer or an alkylene glycol-based polyester polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which
 each of R and R′, independently, is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy, aryl, or aryloxy; 
 each x, independently, is an integral of 1 to 10; 
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000; 
 each T, independently, is alkyl or aryl; and 
 each of A and B, independently, is oxygen, sulfur, or amino. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which
 each of R and R′, independently, is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy, aryl, or aryloxy; 
 each x, independently, is an integral of 1 to 10; 
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000; 
 each T, independently, is alkyl or aryl; and 
 each of A and B, independently, is oxygen, sulfur, or amino. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which
 each of R and R′, independently, is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy, aryl, or aryloxy; 
 each of x and y, independently, is an integral of 1 to 10; 
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000; 
 each T, independently, is alkyl or aryl; and 
 each of A and B, independently, is oxygen, sulfur, amino, alkyl, or aryl; and at least one B is oxygen, sulfur, or amino. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a multi-component polyester in which at least three components are aliphatic, aromatic or cyclic monomers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method of incorporating a third monomer in a preformed polymer, the method comprising mixing the third monomer with the preformed polymer, adding a lipase to the monomer-polymer mixture, and polymerizing the reaction mixture, wherein the third monomer is a linear or cyclic alkyl monomer or an aryl monomer.