Polymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides

Anionic Polymerization. Anionic grafting polymerization initiated on the inorganic particles is also possible to give composite particles. The amino group incorporated into the surface of silica caused anionic polymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydride to give poly(amino acid) grafting [Reaction (8)1 (21). 

Figure 6. Polymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides with a primary amine as an initiator of the reaction...

The polymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides (Leuchs anhydrides) has also been achieved by water and by a variety of bases like amines, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal oxides, and organo-metallic compounds in bulk, inert solvents, or starting with the solid monomer (705). Despite a great interest in the polypeptides produced in these reactions, little attention has been paid to conditions which yield solid polymer. In case the solid was produced, no physical chemical analysis of the polymer was carried out. Pol5mierization of the crystalline monomer was already observed in 1940 705). 

Discuss the polymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides. 

Swarc,M. The Kinetics and Mechanism of N-carboxy-a-amino-acid Anhydride (NCA) Polymerization to Poly-amino Acids. Vol. 4, pp. 1—65. 

Ring-opening copolymerization was simultaneously investigated with homopolymerization of N-carboxy-a-amino acid anhydrides, NCAs, by Bamford at al Polymerization of a mixture of NCAs of y-ethyl-L-glutamate and sarcosine ... 

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