Chiral oligomers by iterative tandem catalysis.
Iterative tandem catalysis is presented as a flexible tool for obtaining chiral macromolecules from racemic or prochiral monomers. Here, we combine lipase-catalyzed ring-opening of omega-substituted lactones with ruthenium-catalyzed racemization. In a two-pot system, enantioenriched oligomers of 6-methyl-epsilon-caprolactone were synthesized, which could not have been obtained by enzymatic ring-opening alone. A one-pot experiment proved highly promising in developing a novel route toward enantiopure polyesters.
van As
Bart A C
BA
Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
van Buijtenen
Jeroen
J
Heise
Andreas
A
Broxterman
Quirinus B
QB
Verzijl
Gerard K M
GK
Palmans
Anja R A
AR
Meijer
E W
EW