Green polymer chemistry: Precision synthesis of novel multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol)s using enzymatic catalysis

This paper gives an overview of enzymatic catalysis and reports the precision synthesis of four-functional poly(ethylene glycol)s using this “green chemistry” approach. Specifically, a tetramer (TEG) and a 23-mer PEG were functionalized by sequential quantitative transesterification and Michael addition reactions catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). The results demonstrate the power of enzyme catalysis in polymer chemistry. The products will serve as the core of novel dendrimers for drug delivery applications.