A route to anionic hydrophilic films of copolymers of l-leucine, l-aspartic acid and l-aspartic acid esters

A series of copolymers of l-leucine and β-benzyl-l-aspartate [Leu/Asp(OBz)] covering the range 30–70 mol % of l-leucine, was synthesized by the N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) method. The copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, infra-red spectroscopy and viscometry. For all compositions high molecular weight copolymers were prepared with excellent film-forming properties. Tercopolymers of l-leucine, β-benzyl-l-aspartate and β-methyl-l-aspartate [Leu/Asp(OBz)/Asp(OMe)] were obtained after an ester interchange reaction (conversion 85–95%) with the original copolymer systems. These tercopolymers were characterized by elemental analysis and i.r. spectroscopy. Films of the tercopolymers, cast from organic solvents, could be converted into hydrophilic films by saponification of the methyl ester groups using alkaline water/organic solvent media. The hydrophilic films, which will be further investigated for their use as haemodialysis membranes were characterized by potentiometric titration and i.r. spectroscopy.