Controlled synthesis of two-dimensional polymers within biological membranes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14670
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 35010:Polymer chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Sato Kohei 東京工業大学, 生命理工学院, 助教 (40825197)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脂質二重層 / 両親媒性分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research was to establish a new synthesis method that utilizes the interior of lipid bilayers, as seen in the synthesis of biopolymers in nature. Here we have synthesized a novel amphiphilic molecule containing a catalytic moiety in its central part. We have evaluated its catalytic activity in water and found that its activity is superior to that of commercially available water-soluble catalysts with a similar ligand structure. The high catalytic activity of the amphiphilic catalyst is attributed to its propensity to form a liquid droplet, which can concentrate the substrate molecules inside the droplet.

Free Research Field

生体関連化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現代までの有機・高分子合成化学の発展により，バラエティに富んだ構造の分子を合成できるようになった．これらの分野は主に新規反応の開発によって牽引されてきたが，化学合成の場に着目した研究も同様に，物質合成の可能性を広げる上で多大なる貢献を果たしてきた．一般的に合成反応は均一な溶液中で行われるが，気液・液液・固液界面を化学合成の場として利用することで，均一相では合成し得ない化学構造や，界面の形状を反映したユニークな集積構造を有する有機・高分子材料を創成できる．本研究は従来の化学合成に新たな場を提供し，従来は不可能であった物質合成の可能性を切り拓くものである．