Efficient Biocatalytic Cleavage and Recovery of Organic Substrates Supported on Soluble Polymers

The applicability of novel solution-phase supports in combination with enzymes for biocatalytic transformations is reported. Ex novo designed styrene-based copolymers, bearing a phenylacetic residue in variable loadings and linked as a pendant group to the macromolecular backbone, through a spacer of variable length, have been synthesized and characterized. These derivatives are compatible and can be used as soluble supports in combination with immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA – EC 3.5.1.11) for the biocatalytic cleavage of the covalently anchored organic substrate in quantitative yields, in water or water/dimethylformamide solvent mixtures, with recovery of the immobilized enzyme with negligible losses in activity.