Catalytic Properties of Polymers in Solutions

Abstract

Polymers are increasingly being used as active components in synthesis and catalysis [I -121. Three basic directions of polymer application are cited as follows:( 1 ) use of polymers as reagents; (2) application of functional groups of polymers as catalysts; and (3) use of polymers as supports. Catalysis by functional groups of macromolecules has attracted scientists' attention owing to the rapid development of enzyme catalysis. High catalytic activity of enzymes is attributed to the broad variety of their particular functional groups which enables their involvement in multiple interactions. The main limitation for using polymers in enzyme catalysis is their lack of a diverse functional group. Consequently, complex enzyme functions cannot yet be realized by synthetic analogues. Nevertheless, the molecular nature of proteins has prompted many scientists to focus on catalytic systems based on synthetic polymers as simple model proteins, metalloenzymes and ferments.This chapter presents various examples of enzyme catalysis by polymers including ester hydrolysis, decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, oxidation of disubstituted phenols and hydroquinone, interfacial catalysis and other types of reaction. Because metal ions (Fe, Zn, Cu. Mn, Co, erc.) are often involved as coferments during enzyme catalysis, some examples illustrating their catalytic action are also given. The catalytic activity of polymeric coordination compounds is shown to depend on the strength of the ligand-metal bond.