Synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight phenolic polymers by enzymatic polymerization in the presence of amphiphilic triblock copolymer in water

An enzymatic oxidative polymerization of phenols was investigated in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–poly(propylene glycol) (PPG)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) triblock copolymer (Pluronic) in water. The formation of micellar aggregate of phenol and Pluronic by hydrogen bonding interaction in an aqueous solution was verified by DLS measurement. The PEG content of Pluronic greatly affected the polymerization behaviors. Using Pluronic with high PEG content improved the regioselectivity of the polymerization of phenol to give the polymer mainly consisting of phenylene unit. The polymerization in the presence of Pluronic F68 (EG76–PG29–EG76) produced the phenolic polymer with ultrahigh molecular weight (Mw > 106). From other phenols, high molecular weight polymers were also obtained. In addition, the FT-IR, DSC, and XRD analyses exhibited the formation of miscible complex between the phenolic polymer and Pluronic by hydrogen bonding interaction.