Defined Monomer Sequence Polymers via Membrane Diafiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The preparation of defined monomer sequence polymers using membrane diafiltration techniques is limited by the requirement that monomers must have a low molecular weight for effective purification, preventing the iterative coupling of bulky monomers and leading to undesirable loss of the growing polymer.
Innovation Solution
A process involving sequential monomeric coupling reactions with intervening diafiltration steps using a membrane stable in organic solvents, where a backbone portion with reactive side chain precursor groups is synthesized, allowing for the attachment of side chains of any molecular weight at predetermined positions, enabling the preparation of polymers with predetermined structural and functional properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If membrane diafiltration is used to separate excess monomers from growing polymer, then purification is achieved, but bulky monomers cannot be effectively separated and polymer loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight cut-off parameter of the membrane from conventional low values (preventing bulky monomer separation) to higher values (enabling bulky monomer separation). This parameter change allows the membrane to differentiate between the growing polymer and bulky monomers based on their size differences, resolving the contradiction between purification efficiency and polymer loss for bulky monomer systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If a membrane with larger MWCO is used to separate bulky monomers, then bulky monomer separation is improved, but growing polymer loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the MWCO parameter to a specific higher range that provides sufficient separation between bulky monomers and the growing polymer. This optimized parameter selection enables effective bulky monomer removal while maintaining adequate retention of the growing polymer, resolving the contradiction between bulky monomer separation and polymer loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If iterative monomer coupling is performed to build defined sequence polymers, then structural complexity is achieved, but purification difficulty increases at each step
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the membrane separation parameter (MWCO) to accommodate the increasing size of the growing polymer chain through iterative coupling. This parameter adjustment enables consistent purification across multiple coupling steps, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving the desired structural complexity of defined sequence polymers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the controlled and flexible preparation of defined monomer sequence polymers with predetermined side chains, overcoming the limitations of existing methods by enabling the coupling of bulky monomers and improving the purification efficiency, thus facilitating the production of polymers with specific therapeutic or imaging applications.
Implementation Method 1
separating a product of said one or more sequential coupling reactions from at least one second compound, which is a reaction by-product of the synthesis of the product and/or an excess of a reagent used for the synthesis of the product, by a process of diafiltration
Data Source
AI summary
Processes of preparing defined monomer sequence polymers are disclosed, in which a backbone portion of the polymer is first prepared by performing one or more sequential monomeric coupling reactions with intervening membrane diafiltration purification/isolation steps, followed by a step of decorating the backbone portion with one or more side chains at predetermined positions along its length. The process represents an improvement on prior art techniques, which impose limitations on the size of the side chains that may be present. Defined monomer sequence polymers that are obtainable by the processes are also disclosed.