Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel, Water‐Soluble Polymer with Pendant Groups Carrying cis‐Platinum Complex

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of a polymer with pendant groups carrying a cis‐platinum complex by the chemical modification route is discussed. Diethyloxomalonate functionalized polystyrene (DPS) is synthesized by the Friedel–Crafts acylation of polystyrene with diethyloxomalonate in the presence of SnCl₄, by a batch‐wise addition process. The reaction of DPS with cis‐diaquo(trans‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) results in the formation of a cis‐platinum chelated polymer (PtDPS). Proton NMR and IR spectroscopies are used to confirm the transformation. The polymer synthesized is further characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as well as UV and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. PtDPS thus synthesized is further modified into a water‐soluble polymer by another polymer modification reaction resulting in the introduction of thiobarbituric acid moieties.

Keywords:

• Functional polymer
• Water‐soluble polymer
• cis‐Platinum complex
• Polymeric drug
• Tumor treatment
• Platinum‐chelation
• Polymer modification reactions

Acknowledgment

We wish to thank the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India for financial support.