Copolymers containing functional groups intrinsic to the active centers of serine hydrolases: Synthesis and evaluation of catalytic capability

N-Acryloyl derivatives of histamine, monoethanolamine, and β-alanine, which contain imidazole, hydroxyl, and carboxyl functional groups, respectively, are synthesized and characterized. Copolymers, which are further divided into thermally precipitable and thermally nonprecipitable (soluble) fractions, are obtained via the free-radical copolymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam and the specified comonomers that is initiated by a persulfate–tertiary amine redox system in a medium of 10% aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 65°C. It is shown that the soluble fractions of the synthesized copolymers exhibit catalytic activity in the reaction of hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl propionate (NPP) at a temperature above the coil-to-globule transition.