Environmentally Benign CO2-Based Copolymers: Degradable Polycarbonates Derived from Dihydroxybutyric Acid and Their Platinum-Polymer Conjugates

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Apr 6;138(13):4626-33. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b01327. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Abstract

(S)-3,4-Dihydroxybutyric acid ((S)-3,4-DHBA), an endogenous straight chain fatty acid, is a normal human urinary metabolite and can be obtained as a valuable chiral biomass for synthesizing statin-class drugs. Hence, its epoxide derivatives should serve as promising monomers for producing biocompatible polymers via alternating copolymerization with carbon dioxide. In this report, we demonstrate the production of poly(tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate carbonate) from racemic-tert-butyl 3,4-epoxybutanoate (rac-(t)Bu 3,4-EB) and CO2 using bifunctional cobalt(III) salen catalysts. The copolymer exhibited greater than 99% carbonate linkages, 100% head-to-tail regioselectivity, and a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of 37 °C. By way of comparison, the similarly derived polycarbonate from the sterically less congested monomer, methyl 3,4-epoxybutanoate, displayed 91.8% head-to-tail content and a lower Tg of 18 °C. The tert-butyl protecting group of the pendant carboxylate group was removed using trifluoroacetic acid to afford poly(3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid carbonate). Depolymerization of poly(tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate carbonate) in the presence of strong base results in a stepwise unzipping of the polymer chain to yield the corresponding cyclic carbonate. Furthermore, the full degradation of the acetyl-capped poly(potassium 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate carbonate) resulted in formation of the biomasses, β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolacetone and 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate, in water (pH = 8) at 37 °C. In addition, water-soluble platinum-polymer conjugates were synthesized with platinum loading of 21.3-29.5%, suggesting poly(3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid carbonate) and related derivatives may serve as platinum drug delivery carriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Butylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Butyrates / chemistry*
  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Carbonates
  • Catalysis
  • Cobalt / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Epoxy Compounds / chemistry
  • Ethylenediamines
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / chemistry*
  • Platinum / chemistry*
  • Polycarboxylate Cement / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Water

Substances

  • 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate
  • Butylene Glycols
  • Butyrates
  • Carbonates
  • Drug Carriers
  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Ethylenediamines
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Polycarboxylate Cement
  • Polymers
  • Water
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • polycarbonate
  • Cobalt
  • Platinum
  • disalicylaldehyde ethylenediamine