title: Polymer synthesis by enzymatic catalysis.
abstract: Using biocatalysts as enzymes for in vitro polymer synthesis is a relatively new (third) stream that has become popular in the past two decades, following a first stream using catalysts of acids, bases, radical species, and so on, used since 1920s, and a second stream using catalysts of transition metals and rare metals since 1950s. Enzymatic catalysis is environmentally benign, yet allows the synthesis of various natural and unnatural polymers that have well-defined structures with controlled stereochemistry, regioselectivity, and chemoselectivity. This review will focus on recent developments in enzyme-catalyzed polymer synthesis in the areas of polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyaromatics, as well as polymer modification.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadokawa
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011134:Polysaccharides