pK_a Modulation of Pyrrolidine-Based Catalytic Polymers Used for the Preparation of Glycosyl Hydrazides at Physiological pH and Temperature

Inspired by the ability of enzymes to use the surrounding hydrophobic and/or polarizable groups to modulate the pK_a of a given amino acid, we designed a series of soluble polymers able to decrease the basicity of pyrrolidine (from 11.2 to 8.6 pK_a units), which clearly increases its aminocatalytic activity at physiological pH in CN bond formation reactions via ion iminium activation. Other parameters such as charge density, hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, and aggregation state have been studied as important factors in the catalytic activity of the polymers for a given substrate. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, an optimal pyrrolidine-based catalytic polymer has been used for the formation of C–N bonds between hydrazides and free sugars as the model system for the preparation of glycoconjugates.