title: Polydopamine--an organocatalyst rather than an innocent polymer.
abstract: Polydopamine (PDA) is easily available by oxidation of dopamine and is widely used for persistent coatings of various materials. It is hitherto considered to be inert in many interesting biomedical and other applications. Results presented here, reveal an unexpected behavior of polydopamine as an organocatalyst in direct aldol reactions under mild conditions. Evidence was found for dual catalysis making use of amino and phenolic hydroxy groups found in PDA. Thus scientists must be aware that PDA is not an innocent polymer and can cause unwanted side effects in important applications, such as in biomedicine or as supports in catalysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-University Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin (Germany); National Institute of Research and Development for Isotopic and Molecular Technologies (INCDTIM), Str. Donath 65-103, RO-400293 Cluj-Napoca (Romania).
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mrówczyński
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunge
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liebscher
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D007211:Indoles; D011108:Polymers; C568283:polydopamine; C116609:3-hydroxybutanal
keywords: aldol reaction; coatings; magnetic nanoparticles; organocatalysis; polydopamine