Andreas Heise

Click chemistry as a means to functionalize macroporous PolyHIPE

The surface functionalization of macroporous polyHIPE (pHIPE) was achieved by Huisgen-type ‘click’ chemistry. In the first step a 600–800 nm thick layer of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (pGMA) was grafted from the pHIPE surface by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Near quantitative azidation of the pGMA layer was achieved by the ring-opening reaction of the epoxide groups with sodium azide. The influence of the reaction conditions on the uniformity of the ‘click’ reaction on the three-dimensional macroporous materials was shown in model reactions with propargyl alcohol. Under optimized conditions, azide conversions of around 80% were estimated from IR-spectra. Visualization of the homogeneous functionalization was achieved by the attachment of a fluorescent molecule. Moreover, the first proof of the versatility for biofunctionalization of pHIPE by this method was provided by the attachment of several protected amino acids. The hydrolytic stability of the triazole ring allows for the successful deprotection of the amino acids on the pHIPE.

Supercritical CO2: an effective medium for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of block copolymers?

In this review, we describe the combination of enzymatic polymerisation and controlled free radical polymerisation in supercritical carbon dioxide. This combination facilitates the preparation of a range of block and graft copolymers, some of which cannot easily be obtained by conventional polymer synthesis. Biocatalysis in polymer science provides significant new opportunities and will open up a very broad range of new polymeric materials.