Syntheses of Graft Polymers of Polypeptides on Polyhydroxy Polymers

Graft polymers of definite structure of poly α‐ and β‐ amino acids on natural and synthetic polyhydroxy polymers were prepared by reaction of their polymeric alkoxide derivative with N‐carboxy anhydrides (NCA) of amino acids. Five different types of graft polymers were prepared having different structures and compositions of the polypeptide side chains. Graft polymers of polypeptides on cellulose were synthesised by reaction of NCAs with cellulose xanthate in solution. The reaction of alkali metal naphthalenes with a polyhydroxy polymer, including cellulose acetate and nitro cellulose, in a suitable solvent was used for the preparation of alkoxide derivatives which served for subsequent graft polymerization. The graft polymers were obtained in high yields. In most cases no homopolypeptide was formed, and the polyhydroxy polymer backbone reacted in 70–100% yield. The formation of graft polymers was in accordance with a direct addition of the polymeric alkoxide initiator to the NCA.