title: In vitro biosynthesis of polyesters.
abstract: In vitro synthesis of polyesters using isolated enzymes as catalyst via non-biosynthetic pathways is reviewed. In most cases, lipase was used as catalyst and various monomer combinations, typically oxyacids or their esters, dicarboxylic acids or their derivatives/glycols, and lactones, afforded the polyesters. The enzymatic polymerization often proceeded under mild reaction conditions in comparison with chemical processes. By utilizing characteristic properties of lipases, regio- and enantioselective polymerizations proceeded to give functional polymers, most of which are difficult to synthesize by conventional methodologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. kobayasi@mat.polym.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uyama
mesh_terms: D002616:Chemical Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; D008049:Lipase