Enzymes in polymer chemistry, 9. Polymerizable oligoesters from cholic acid via lipase catalyzed condensation reactions

Regioselective oligocondensation of cholic acid in the 3‐position was achieved in organic solution in the presence of a lipase from Candida antarctica. Furthermore, a mixture of cholic acid, 11‐methacryloylaminoundecanoic acid and the lipase resulted in the production of a radically polymerizable oligo(cholic acid ester) bearing exactly one methacrylic end group. This new monomer was polymerized radically yielding the corresponding comb‐polymers bearing several cholic acid esters at the end of the side chains.