Synthesis of optically active polyhydroxyesters and polyhydroxyketones by asymmetrical hydration in the macromolecular chains

Abstract

The paper is based on an investigation of the possibilities of preparing optically active polyhydroxyesters and polyhydroxyketones by means of chemical reactions in the chains involving asymmetrical synthesis, taking as an example the asymmetrical hydration of the keto group in poly-β-ketoesters and poly-β-diketones. Taking the asymmetrical hydration of poly-β-ketoesters as an example a study is made of the main factors influencing the optical of the resulting polymers and the regularities of the hydration process at a hydrogen pressure of 1 atm. The catalytic hydration of nickel complexes of the polymers and their low-molecular analogues results in the corresponding polyhydroxy- and hydroxyesters, and in the case of hydration under asymmetrical conditions, results in the formation of the corresponding optically active products of the reaction. The possibility of using polymeric asymmetrizing agents, namely poly-β-hydroxyesters and sodium poly- l-glutaminate in the asymmetrical hydration reactions is demonstrated.