Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of a pure macrocyclic polyester from dimethyl terephthalate and diethylene glycol.

The polymerization of dimethyl terephthalate and diethylene glycol by enzymic catalysis in toluene is described. The potential pi-pi interactions of the aromatic rings together with the relative flexibility of the diol segment have been regarded as synergy factors responsible for the formation of a pure cyclic compound. The so-called C2 macrocycle was characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction on powder. Structurally speaking, it is made of two repeating units. The substitution of the central oxygen atom of the diol by -CH(2)- or -S- as well as the presence of ortho-substituents (-NH(2) or -NO(2)) on the phthalate were expected to disrupt the stacking of the phenyl groups more or less.