Ring-opening cryo-polymerization of N-carboxy-α-amino acid anhydride of γ-benzyl l-Glutamate

Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxy-α-amino acid anhydride (NCA) of γ-benzyl l -glutamate (BLG) was investigated under frozen condition for the first time. This cryo-ROP was performed in DMSO or 1,4-dioxane below the freezing point of polymerization mixture. The kinetics was monitored with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography , disclosing the well control over molecular weight , living polymerization features and considerable polymerization rate. Compared with the polymerization proceeded at 30 °C, which showed weak linearity regarding the reaction kinetics and relatively broad distribution of molecular weight, the cryo-ROP exhibited excellent first-order kinetics as well as narrow molecular distribution.