Biocatalytic preparation of dichloropropyl acrylates. Application to the synthesis of poly(dichloropropyl acrylates)

• Published in: Journal of molecular catalysis. B, Enzymatic Vol. 92; pp. 7 - 13
• Main Authors: Edinson, Yara-Varón, Jordi, Eras Joli, Mercè, Torres, Mercè, Balcells, Gemma, Villorbina, Ramon, Canela-Garayoa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: acrylates; batch systems; biocatalysts; Biocatalytic transesterification; Bioconversions. Hemisynthesis; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; CALB; carboxylic ester hydrolases; catalytic activity; Dichloropropyl acrylates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungi; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Packed bed reactor; Poly(dichloropropyl acrylate); polymerization; Pseudozyma antarctica; transesterification; water activity; PBR; Packed bed reactor; CALB; Biocatalytic transesterification; Dichloropropyl acrylates; Poly(dichloropropyl acrylate); Packed bed; Biocatalysis; Transesterification; Reactor; Application
• ISSN: 1381-1177; 1873-3158
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcatb.2013.03.005

•Procedure developed for obtain dichloropropyl acrylates using biocatalyst.•Synthesis was carried out in batch reactor and a PBR.•CALB showed the best performance as a biocatalyst.•Poly(dichloropropyl acrylate) was prepared by suspension polymerization of the dichloropropyl acrylates with 85% of yield.
The synthesis of dichloropropyl acrylates from dichloropropyl dodecanoates through a transesterification process using diverse commercial lipases and whole cells (fungal resting cells) is presented. The synthesis was carried out in a solvent-free media using a conventional batch system and a packed bed reactor (PBR). The effect of water activity on the process depended on the lipase used. The commercial enzyme CALB (Candida antarctica lipase B immobilized onto a macroporous acrylic resin) showed the best performance as a biocatalyst, achieving a yield of 50% and productivity of 7.2μmolmin−1g−1 in the batch reactor and 33% and 35.8μmolmin−1g−1 in the PBR. Finally, polymeric material was prepared by suspension polymerization of the dichloropropyl acrylates synthesized using PBR. Particles with diameters between 170 and 380μm were obtained with a yield of 85% after 18h reaction.