Process for preparing co-poly(amides/peptides)

Claim 2

A process for preparing co-poly(amide/peptide) which comprises reacting two or more reactants at least one of which is a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide and at least one of which is a polymeric polypeptide, an oligomeric polypeptide in the presence of at least one aryl phosphoryl azide compound of the formula: ##STR4## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more substituents which are inert under process conditions; and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, haloalkyl, nitroalkyl, hydrogen, a metal or non-metal cation or R 1 substituents said azide compound being present in an amount effective for polymerization.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein at least one of each reactants is an oligomeric polyamide and at least one of said reactants is an oligomeric polypeptide.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 2 wherein said oligomeric polyamide and said oligomeric polypeptide are selected from the group consisting of materials having from 2 to about 50 repeat units.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 3 wherein said oligomeric polyamide and said oligomeric polypeptide are selected from the group consisting of materials having from 2 to about 20 repeat units.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 4 wherein said oligomeric polyamide and said oligomeric polypeptide are selected from the group consisting of materials having from 2 to about 15 repeat units.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 2 wherein of said oligomeric polyamide are selected from the group consisting of oligomeric polycaprolactam and oligomeric poly(hexamethylene adipamide).

Claim 8

A process according to claim 6 wherein said oligomeric polyamide is oligomeric polycaprolactam.

Claim 9

The process of claim 2 wherein said oligomeric polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of materials comprising at least one monomeric unit derived from glycine or lysine.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 wherein said oligomeric polypeptide comprises at least one monomeric unit derived from tyrosine.

Claim 11

The process of claim 9 wherein said oligomeric polypeptide comprises at least one monomeric unit derived from hydroxyproline.

Claim 12

The process of claim 2 wherein said oligomeric polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of: poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Al-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-4-Hyp-4-Thr-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-4-Hyp-4-Hyp-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Pho-4-Hyp-4-Hyp-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Ala-Pro-Ser-Tyr-4-Hyp-4-Hyp-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-4-Hyp-4-Hyp-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Thr-Tyr-Lys - n , poly-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-4Hyp-4Hyp-Thr-Tyr-Lys-Ala - n , Ala-Lys-Pro/Hyr-Ser/Thr-Tyr/Dopa Pro/Hyp Ser/Thr-Tyr/Dopa-Lys n , poly-Gly-X-Y n , poly-Gly-Pro-X n , poly-Gly-X-Pro n , poly-X-Pro-Gly-Y-Gly n , poly-X-Pro-Gly-Gly n , poly-X-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly-Y, poly-(Ala) 4 -(Lys)-(Ala) 2 -Lys 2 -(Phe/Tyr)-Gly-Ala n , poly-(Ala) 2 -Lys-(Ala) 3 -Lys-(Ala 2 ) n , poly-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ser n , poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Try-Pro-Pro-Thr-Tyr-Lys n , poly-Pro-Leu-Gly n , poly-Ala-Gly-Gly, poly-Ser-Gly-Gly n , poly-Pro-Phe-Gly n , poly-Pro-Lys-Gly n , poly-Lys-Gly-Gly n , poly-Pro-Gly-Gly n , poly-Pro-Pro-Gly n , poly-Ala-Phe-Gly n , poly-Lys-Glu-Gly n , poly-Ala-Gly-Gly-GLY n , poly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Gly n , poly-Pro-Gly-Pro-Gly n , poly-Lys-Glu-Lys-Glu n , poly-Val-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly n and poly-Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-tyr-4-Hyp-Thr-Phe-Lys n wherein n is equal to or greater than 1 and X and Y are the same or different at each occurrence and each is an amino acid.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 7 which further comprises hydroxylating the pendant phenyl group of the monomeric unit derived from tyrosine.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 12 wherein said phenyl group is hydroxylated enzymatically.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 1 wherein said process is carried out neat.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 14 wherein said process is carried out at a temperature of al least about 150° C.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 15 wherein said temperature is from about 170° C. to about 350° C.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 1 wherein said process is carried out in an aprotic solvent.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 17 wherein said process is carried out at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 100° C.

Claim 20

A process according claim 18 wherein said process is carried out at a temperature of from about 5° C. to about 50° C.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 19 wherein said process is carried out at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 30° C.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are phenyl or substituted phenyl.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 21 wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more alkyl, halo, nitro, phenyl, phenoxy, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, phenylalkyl or alkoxy groups.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 10 wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more phenyl, alkyl, alkoxy or phenylalkyl groups.

Claim 25

A process according to claim 11 wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more alkyl or alkoxy groups.

Claim 26

A process according to claim 1 wherein said aryl phosphoryl azide compound is diphenyl phosphoryl azide.

Claim 27

A process according to claim 1 wherein said mixture is heated in the absence or substantial absence of water.

Claim 28

A process according to claim 26 wherein the amount of water in said mixture is less than about 0.1 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture.

Claim 29

A process according to claim 14 wherein the amount of aryl phosphoryl azide compound is at least about 0.1 percent by weight of the mixture.

Claim 30

A process according to claim 28 wherein said amount is from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent by weight.

Claim 31

A process according to claim 29 wherein said amount is from about 0.2 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 32

A process according to claim 30 wherein said amount is from about 0.2 to about 2 percent by weight.

Claim 33

A process according to claim 17 wherein the amount of aryl phosphoryl azide compound is at least about 10 weight percent based on the total weight of the reactants.

Claim 34

A process according to claim 32 wherein said amount is from about 10 to about 200 weight percent.

Claim 35

A process according to claim 33 wherein said amount is from about 20 to about 150 weight percent.

Claim 36

A process according to claim 1 wherein said process is carried out in solution.

Claim 37

A process for preparing co-poly(amide/peptide) which comprises reacting two or more reactants at least one of which is a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide and at least one of which is a polymeric polypeptide, an oligomeric polypeptide in the presence of at least one aryl phosphoryl azide compound of the formula: ##STR5## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more substituents which are inert under process conditions; and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, haloalkyl, nitroalkyl, hydrogen, a metal or non-metal cation or R 1 substituents, said co poly(amide/peptide) having a reduced melting point over co-poly(amide/peptide)s of the same molecular weight formed by the copolymerization of at least a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide and at least one polymeric peptide, an oligomeric polypeptide in the presence at least one of said diphenyl phosphoryl azide compounds, in an amount effective for polymerization said melting points being measured by a Differential Scanning Colorimetry (DSC) at a heating rate of about 10° C./min. under argon.

Claim 38

A process for preparing co-poly(amide/peptide) which comprises reacting two or more reactants at least one of which is a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide and at least one of which is a polymeric polypeptide, an oligomeric polypeptide in the presence of at least one aryl phosphoryl azide compound of the formula: ##STR5## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more substituents which are inert under process conditions; and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, haloalkyl, nitroalkyl, hydrogen, a metal or non-metal cation or R 1 substituents, said co poly(amide/peptide) having a reduced melting point over co-poly(amide/peptide)s of the same molecular weight formed by the copolymerization of at least a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide and at least one polymeric peptide, an oligomeric polypeptide in the presence at least one of said diphenyl phosphoryl azide compounds, in an amount effective for polymerization said melting points being measured by a Differential Scanning Colorimetry (DSC) at a heating rate of about 10° C./min. under argon.

Claim 39

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said co poly(amide/peptide) has a molecular weight ranging from about 10,000 to about 200,000.

Claim 40

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said co poly(amide/peptide) has a molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

Claim 41

In an improved process for forming a shaped article of co poly(amide/peptide) which comprises: heating a co poly(amide/peptide) to a temperature at least equal to the melting temperature for said co poly(amide/peptide); b) shaping said co poly(amide/peptide) into a predetermined configuration, while maintaining the above temperature; c) lowering the temperature of said polyamide to a temperature sufficient to allow the co poly(amide/peptide) to harden; thereby forming a shaped article of said co poly(amide/peptide); said improvement comprises employing a co poly(amide/peptide) prepared by reacting at least two reactants at least one of which is a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide or a polyamide precursor and at least one of which is a polymeric polypeptide, an oligomeric polypeptide or a polypeptide precursor in the presence of an effective amount of one or more aryl phosphoryl azide compounds of the formula: ##STR6## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more substituents which are inert under process conditions; and R 2 is selected form the group consisting of alkyl, haloalkyl, nitroalkyl, hydrogen, a metal or non-metal cation or R 1 substituents.

Claim 42

In an improved process for forming a shaped article of co poly(amide/peptide) which comprises: heating a co poly(amide/peptide) to a temperature at least equal to the melting temperature for said co poly(amide/peptide); b) shaping said co poly(amide/peptide) into a predetermined configuration, while maintaining the above temperature; c) lowering the temperature of said polyamide to a temperature sufficient to allow the co poly(amide/peptide) to harden; thereby forming a shaped article of said co poly(amide/peptide); said improvement comprises employing a co poly(amide/peptide) prepared by reacting at least two reactants at least one of which is a polymeric polyamide, an oligomeric polyamide or a polyamide precursor and at least one of which is a polymeric polypeptide, an oligomeric polypeptide or a polypeptide precursor in the presence of an effective amount of one or more aryl phosphoryl azide compounds of the formula: ##STR6## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or more substituents which are inert under process conditions; and R 2 is selected form the group consisting of alkyl, haloalkyl, nitroalkyl, hydrogen, a metal or non-metal cation or R 1 substituents.

Claim 43

The process in accordance with claim 36 wherein at least one reactant is an oligomeric polyamide or polyamide precursor having a number of repeating units ranging from about 2 to about 50.

Claim 44

The process in accordance with claim 36 wherein at least one reactant is an oligomeric polyamide having a number of repeating units ranging from about 2 to about 50, and at least one reactant is an oligomeric polypeptide having a number of repeating units ranging from about 2 to about 50.

Claim 45

A process according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said reactants is a polymeric polyamide or oligyomeric polyamide and at least one of said reactants is a polymeric polypeptide or an oligomeric polypeptide.

Claim 46

A process according to claim 1 wherein said process is carried out in an organic solvent.