Enzymatic polymerization and oligomerization

Polymerizations and oligomerizations catalyzed by various enzymes including hydrolases, transferases and peroxidases are reviewed. Optically active polyesters have efficiently been prepared by lipase-catalyzed asymmetric polymerizations using various dicarboxylic acid derivatives as monomers. A novel method for regio- and stereoselective synthesis of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides has been developed by enzymatic polycondensations of glycosyl fluoride monomers. The methodology has successfully been applied to the first in vitro synthesis of cellulose via a nonbiosynthetic path. A variety of polyaniline derivatives have been produced by peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation polymerizations of aniline derivatives in relation to their electronic properties.