Polymers containing imidazole groups as nanoreactors for hydrolysis of esters

A polymer (PAIM) containing the functional groups imidazole and carboxylic acid acts as a nanoreactor to accelerate deacylation and dephosphorylation reactions. The synthesis was designed to position the two functional groups next to each other, allowing cooperativity. The catalytic efficiency of the polymer was evaluated for the hydrolytic cleavage of p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA) and diethyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate (DEDNPP). PAIM was both efficient and promiscuous, increasing the rates of all reactions up to 10⁷-fold.