Enzymes in polymer chemistry, 6. Lipase‐catalyzed acylation of comb‐like methacrylic polymers containing OH groups in the side chains

The enzymatically catalyzed acylation of poly[ N ‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)‐11‐methacryloylaminoundecanamide‐ co ‐styrene] and the corresponding monomer was performed in the presence of a lipase, with vinyl acetate, phenyl acetate, 4‐fluorophenyl acetate and phenyl stearate as acylating agents. The kinetics of the enzymatically catalyzed reaction was followed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and correlated with sterical and chemical effects. The reactivity of monomer towards acylation is higher than that of the copolymer, and that of the copolymer depends on copolymer composition, pointing at steric and hydrophobic effects.