Biologically Active Polymeric Displays

Elastomers based on biological monomers can be obtained by the stereoselective coordination polymerization of /S-myrcene (14). By the combination of a neodymium pre-catalyst with triisobutyl aluminmn in the presence of a boron activator results in a polymer in good yield, but there is evidence for crosslinking since the material displays a low solubility. 

Quite recently,the anionic homopolymerization of a few substituted p-lactams and the copolymerization of some of the above pairs have been smdied in order to prepare polyamide 3-derived polypeptides displaying biological properties. The solution polymerization or copolymerization, initiated by li amide disubstituted with trrmethylsilyl groups and activated with 4-tert-butylbenzoyl chloride, does not have living character. From that study, some insights emerged into the reactivity of the above p-lactams in terms of their acidities, as well as electrophUidty of the imide end groups. 

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