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Gastearena X, Barroso-Bujans F, Ruipérez F, Matxain JM. Computational Analysis of the Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Zwitterionic Ring-Expansion Polymerization (ZREP) of Monosubstituted Ethylene Oxide. J Org Chem 2025; 90:2592-2601. [PMID: 39914796 PMCID: PMC11852206 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.4c02264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2024] [Revised: 01/13/2025] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 02/22/2025]
Abstract
This study investigates the reaction mechanism of the zwitterionic ring expansion polymerization (ZREP) of monosubstituted ethylene oxide using boron-based Lewis acids as catalysts to produce cyclic polyethers. The research analyzes various parameters, such as the nature of the substituents (electron-withdrawing, EWG or electron-donating, EDG), the type of catalyst, and the solvent, to understand their influence on the reaction's kinetics, thermodynamics, and regioselectivity. Key findings include that EDGs lower the kinetic barrier of the rate-determining step and favor the reaction at the substituted carbon, while EWGs increase this barrier, making the reaction less favorable. The study also shows that all catalysts tested efficiently activate the epoxide monomer with similar barriers for the rate-determining step, and the regioselectivity trends align with the substituent's electronic effects. Steric effects of substituents were found to dominate the competition between monomer addition and cyclization termination, with most catalysts promoting cyclization. Additionally, the solvent had minimal impact on the polymerization mechanism. This computational study provides valuable insights into the synthesis of cyclic polymers and advances the development of catalysts for ZREP of monosubstituted ethylene oxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuban Gastearena
- Kimika
Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Donostia 20018, Spain
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia 20018, Spain
| | - Fabienne Barroso-Bujans
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia 20018, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Donostia 20018, Spain
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48009, Spain
| | - Fernando Ruipérez
- POLYMAT
and Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country EHU/UPV, Gasteiz 01195, Spain
| | - Jon M. Matxain
- Kimika
Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Donostia 20018, Spain
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia 20018, Spain
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2
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Pagnacco CA, Alvarez‐Fernandez A, Maestro A, González de San Román E, Lund R, Barroso‐Bujans F. Varying the Core Topology in All-Glycidol Hyperbranched Polyglycerols: Synthesis and Physical Characterization. Macromol Rapid Commun 2025; 46:e2400791. [PMID: 39501609 PMCID: PMC11841663 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2025]
Abstract
In the present study, low molecular weight cyclic polyglycidol is used as a macroinitiator for hypergrafting glycidol and producing cyclic graft hyperbranched polyglycerol (cPG-g-hbPG) in the molecular weight range of 103-106 g mol-1. Linear graft hyperbranched polyglycerol (linPG-g-hbPG) and hyperbranched polyglycerol (hbPG) are prepared as reference samples. This creates a family of hbPG structures with cyclic, linear, and star cores, allowing to evaluate their properties in solution and in bulk. The morphology study of the high molecular weight structures using atomic force microscopy revealed a spherical shape for cPG-g-hbPG and hbPG, and a cylindrical shape for linPG-g-hbPG in the nanometric range. Small angle X-ray scattering confirmed the compact particle-like structure of this family of hbPG architectures. Interestingly, the glass transition temperature showed a structure dependence, with cPG-g-hbPG having the highest values and hbPG having the lowest values for the same molecular weight. This study is a step forward in the generation of water-soluble polymers with tailored structure and functionality for advanced applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Andrea Pagnacco
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 4Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
- Materials Physics CenterCSIC‐UPV/EHUPaseo Manuel Lardizábal 5Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
- PMASFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 3Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
| | | | - Armando Maestro
- Materials Physics CenterCSIC‐UPV/EHUPaseo Manuel Lardizábal 5Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
- IKERBASQUE – Basque Foundation for SciencePlaza Euskadi 5Bilbao48009Spain
| | | | - Reidar Lund
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of OsloPostboks 1033BlindernOslo0315Norway
- Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular SciencesUniversity of OsloPostboks 1033BlindernOslo0315Norway
| | - Fabienne Barroso‐Bujans
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 4Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
- Materials Physics CenterCSIC‐UPV/EHUPaseo Manuel Lardizábal 5Donostia−San Sebastián20018Spain
- IKERBASQUE – Basque Foundation for SciencePlaza Euskadi 5Bilbao48009Spain
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3
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Pagnacco C, Kravicz MH, Sica FS, Fontanini V, González de San Román E, Lund R, Re F, Barroso-Bujans F. In Vitro Biocompatibility and Endothelial Permeability of Branched Polyglycidols Generated by Ring-Opening Polymerization of Glycidol with B(C 6F 5) 3 under Dry and Wet Conditions. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:3583-3595. [PMID: 38703359 PMCID: PMC11170947 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Polyglycidol or polyglycerol (PG), a polyether widely used in biomedical applications, has not been extensively studied in its branched cyclic form (bcPG), despite extensive research on hyperbranched PG (HPG). This study explores the biomedical promise of bcPG, particularly its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We evaluate in vitro biocompatibility, endothelial permeability, and formation of branched linear PG (blPG) as topological impurities in the presence of water. Small angle X-ray scattering in solution revealed a fractal dimension of approximately two for bcPG and the mixture bc+blPG, suggesting random branching. Comparisons of cytotoxicity and endothelial permeability between bcPG, bc+blPG, and HPG in a BBB model using hCMEC/D3 cells showed different biocompatibility profiles and higher endothelial permeability for HPG. bcPG showed a tendency to accumulate around cell nuclei, in contrast to the behavior of HPG. This study contributes to the understanding of the influence of polymer topology on biological behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo
Andrea Pagnacco
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 4, Donostia−San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 5, Donostia−San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Marcelo H. Kravicz
- School
of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20854, Italy
| | | | - Veronica Fontanini
- School
of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20854, Italy
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy
| | - Estibaliz González de San Román
- POLYMAT,
Joxe Mari Korta Center, University of the
Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. Tolosa 72, Donostia−San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Reidar Lund
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Postboks 1033, Blindern, Oslo, 0315, Norway
- Hylleraas
Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, University
of Oslo, Postboks 1033,
Blindern, Oslo, 0315, Norway
| | - Francesca Re
- School
of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20854, Italy
| | - Fabienne Barroso-Bujans
- Donostia
International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 4, Donostia−San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 5, Donostia−San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
- IKERBASQUE
- Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
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Ahmad M, Grayson SM. Understanding zwitterionic ring-expansion polymerization through mass spectrometry. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024. [PMID: 38556789 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Zwitterionic ring-expansion polymerization (ZREP) is a polymerization method in which a cyclic monomer is converted into a cyclic polymer through a zwitterionic intermediate. In this review, we explored the ZREP of various cyclic polymers and how mass spectrometry assists in identifying the product architectures and understanding their intricate reaction mechanism. For the majority of polymers (from a few thousand to a few million Da) matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is the most effective mass spectrometry technique to determine the true molecular weight (MW) of the resultant product, but only when the dispersity is low (approximately below 1.2). The key topics covered in this study were the ZREP of cyclic polyesters, cyclic polyamides, and cyclic ethers. In addition, this study also addresses a number of other preliminary topics, including the ZREP of cyclic polycarbonates, cyclic polysiloxanes, and cyclic poly(alkylene phosphates). The purity and efficiency of those syntheses largely depend on the catalyst. Among several catalysts, N-heterocyclic carbenes have exhibited high efficiency in the synthesis of cyclic polyesters and polyamides, whereas tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane [B(C6F5)3] is the most optimal catalyst for cyclic polyether synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahi Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Scott M Grayson
- Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Chen Y, Li B, Wang Y, Zhu X, Yuan D, Yao Y. Synthesis of Mono- and Dinuclear Aluminum Complexes Bearing Aromatic Amino-Phenolato Ligands: A Comparative Study in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:21247-21256. [PMID: 38053396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Dinuclear aluminum methyl complexes bearing aromatic diamine-bridged tetra(phenolato) ligands and the mononuclear aluminum methyl complex with the phenylamine-bridged bis(phenolato) ligand have been synthesized and characterized. Structure determination revealed that the Al-Al distances in these dinuclear aluminum complexes are tunable by the choice of the suitable aromatic backbone of the diamine-bridged tetra(phenolato) ligands. The catalytic behaviors of these mono- and dinuclear aluminum complexes for cyclohexene oxide (CHO) polymerization were investigated. The activities of these dinuclear Al complexes were observed to increase with the decrease of Al-Al distances, and the dinuclear Al complexes appeared to have better catalytic activity than the mononuclear Al complex, even if the Al-Al distance is as long as 9.401 Å. Dinuclear aluminum complex 2, with the shortest Al-Al distance (7.236 Å), showed the highest activity toward CHO polymerization with TOFs up to 6460 h-1 in neat CHO at 30 °C. Furthermore, comparative kinetic studies revealed that the polymerization is first-order for CHO concentration, and the reaction orders for initiator concentration are different for the mono- and dinuclear Al complexes. The polymerization mechanism study revealed that both the methyl and phenolate groups were involved in the initiation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaorong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuehua Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Life Science, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingming Yao
- Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Sung K, Baek J, Choi S, Kim BS, Lee SH, Lee IH, Jang HY. Cu(triNHC)-catalyzed polymerization of glycidol to produce ultralow-branched polyglycerol. RSC Adv 2023; 13:24071-24076. [PMID: 37577101 PMCID: PMC10415747 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra04422j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We have successfully synthesized a novel form of polyglycerol with an unprecedentedly low degree of branching (DB = 0.08-0.18), eliminating the need for glycidol protection. Leveraging the remarkable efficiency and selectivity of our Cu(triNHC) catalyst, comprising copper(i) ions and NHC ligands, we achieved a highly selective polymerization process. The proposed Cu-coordination mechanisms presented the formation of linear L1,3 units while effectively suppressing dendritic units. Consequently, our pioneering approach yielded polyglycerol with an ultralow DB and exceptional yields. To comprehensively assess the physical properties and topology of the synthesized polyglycerol, we employed 1H diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometry. Remarkably, the ultralow-branched cyclic polyglycerol (DB = 0.08) synthesized at 0 °C showcased extraordinary characteristics, exhibiting the lowest diffusion coefficient and the highest molecular weight. This achievement establishes the significant potential of our polyglycerol with a low degree of branching, revolutionizing the field of biocompatible polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kihyuk Sung
- Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University Suwon 16499 Korea +82(031)-219-2555
| | - Jinsu Baek
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Korea
| | - Soonyoung Choi
- Center for Advanced Specialty Chemicals, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) Ulsan 44412 Korea
| | - Byeong-Su Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Korea
| | - Sang-Ho Lee
- Center for Advanced Specialty Chemicals, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) Ulsan 44412 Korea
| | - In-Hwan Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Ajou University Suwon 16499 Korea
| | - Hye-Young Jang
- Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University Suwon 16499 Korea +82(031)-219-2555
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Ochs J, Pagnacco CA, Barroso-Bujans F. Macrocyclic polymers: Synthesis, purification, properties and applications. Prog Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2022.101606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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