CA2218495A1

CA2218495A1 - Heterotelechelic block copolymer and a method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: CA2218495A1
Application number: CA002218495A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kazunori Kataoka; Carmen Scholz; Michihiro Iijima; Takahiko Kutsuna; Yukio Nagasaki; Masao Kato; Teruo Okano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-19
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1996-10-24
Also published as: JP3855279B2; US5925720A; SI9620067A; NZ305471A; CN1187829A; WO1996033233A1; CN1085987C; MX9708025A; EP0822217A4; EP0822217B1; EP0822217A1; KR19990007861A; BR9608330A; NO974678L; DE69624475T2; DE69624475D1; NO314762B1; ATE226603T1; RU2169742C2; NO974678D0

Abstract

Heterotelechelic oligomers or polymers represented by general formula (I) (wherein R1 and R2 form acetal or represent atomic groups forming together oxo (=O); p, m, n and q are each a definite number; L represents a group forming an ester; and Z represents a definite functional group); and a process for producing the same by the living polymerization. Because of the forming stable polymer micelles in an aqueous solvent, such an oligomer or polymer is seemingly useful as, for example, a target oriented drug carrier.

Description

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 DESCRIPTION

HETEROTELECHELIC BLOCK COPOLYMER AND A METHOD
FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

Field of the invention The present inve-ntion relates to a hetero-telechelic block copolymer which has different function-al groups on its both ends, a method for the production thereof and its application to high-molecular micelle.
More detailedly,.this invention discloses a polymer which has different functional groups on its both ends while having, in its main chain, polyethylene oxide as a hydrophilic segment and polyester as a hydrophobic 15 segment.
In this invention, the term "polymer" includes oligomer.

Prior arts A high-molecular micelle or nanosphere com-posed of a hydrophilic/hydrophobic type block copolymer wherein a hydrophilic polymer like polyethylene oxide is combined with a hydrophobic polymer at the molecular level is now attracting attention as a carrier for drug delivery or the like. Said high-molecular micelle and nanosphere have been prepared from a hydrophilic/hydro-phobic type block copolymer wherein a hydrophil;c poly-mer is combined with a hydrophobic polymer at the molec-ular level.
In conventional processes to produce a hydro-philic/hydrophobic type block copolymer, however, there is a limitation on the species of terminal functional groups introduced, and there have only been proposed block copolymers whose functional groups are restricted to methoxy and hydroxyl groups. If one succeeded in introducing optional functional groups onto the micelle CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 surface at an optional proportion, it would become possible to provide a functional high-molecular m;celle which could be useful for drug delivery to certain organs.
The object of this invention is to provide a block copolymer, which has different functional groups on its both ends, as a polyfunctional polymer which is capable of forming a high-molecular micelle.

Disclosure of invention The inventors of this invention have found out that there can easily be produced a block copolymer which has a protected or non-protected aldehyde group on one end of molecule and various functional groups on the other end, when an alkylene derivative having a certain kind of aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group is utilized as a living polymerization initiator and when ethylene oxide and lactide or lactone are polymerized as mono-mers.
They have also confirmed that a block copoly-mer obtained in this manner forms a high-molecular micelle which is quite stable in an aqueous solvent.
This invention provides a heterotelechelic block copolymer which has different functional groups on both ends of molecule and which is represented by formu-la (I) below:

Rl 2~C~I~CH2~0~CH2CH20~lCI--L--03~CH2~Z ( I ) wherein Rl and R2 independently denote C
alkoxy, aryloxy or aryl-Cl 3 alkyloxy, or R
and R2, combined with each other, denote ethylenedioxy (-0-CH(R')-CH2-0-: wherein R' denotes hydrogen atom or Cl 6 alkyl) which may CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 be substituted with Cl 6 alkyl, or, combined with each other, denote oxy (= 0), L denotes - CH - 0 - C - CH - or - ~CH23 -a r wherein R3 and R~ independently denote hydrogen atom, C1 10 alkyl, aryl or aryl-C1 3 alkyl, and r denotes an integer of 2 - 5, m denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000, n denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000, p denotes an integer of 1 - 5, q denotes an integer of 0 - 20, Z denotes, when q is 0 (zero), hydrogen atom, alkali metal, acetyl, acryloyl, methacryloyl, cinnamoyl, P-toluenesulfonyl, 2-mercaptopropionyl or 2-aminopropionyl, or allyl or vinylbenzyl, while, when q is an integer of 1 - 20, denoting Cl 6 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, mercapto or amino.

As another aspect, this invention provides a process to produce the block copolymer of the above formula (I) which process comprises the following steps:

Step (1) A polymerization initiator represented by the following formula ( II) Rl-l ~CH~CH2~0-M+ (II) R2-1 p ~5 wherei~n R1 l and R2 l independently CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 denote Cl 10 alkoxy, or, Rl l and R2 l, combined with each other, denote ethylenedioxy which may be substituted with Cl 6 alkyl , p denotes an integer of 1 - 5 and-M denotes alkali metal is made to react with ethyleneoxide so that a compound represented by the following formula (III} may be pro-duced:
R~-~
~CHtCH2~0~CH2CH2o) CH2CH20 M+ ( I I I ) R2-l p m-l wherein Rl l, R2 l, p and M are as de-fined in formula (II), and m denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000.

Step t2) The compound of formula (II) is allowed to react with lactide or lactone which is represented by the following formula (III-a) or (III-b):

,0~ .., ~3 - CH C=0 ( III-a) 25~ ~o~CH R

or \C=O
( III-b) 30~CH2~

wherein R3 and R4 independently denote hydrogen atom, Cl lO alkyl, aryl or aryl-Cl 3 alkyl, and r denotes an integer 35of 2 - 5, CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 so that a block copolymer represented by the follow;ng formula (IV) may be formed:

R~ t -/CH~CH2~0tCH2CH20) (C--L--0) C--~0 Y
R2-l P m 8 n-l 8 (IV) wherein L denotes - C H - O - C - C H - or -~C H 2~ -d R1-1 R2-1 p, m, n and M are as defined above.
The above step provides a living polymer of this invention (which is included in the polymer of formula (I)) which ;s usable as an intermediate for further extending some polymer segment or other.
Step (3) (i) The alkali metal alkoxide of formula (IV) is selectively hydrolyzed to form a block copolymer of the following formula (V) R'-l \CHtCH2~-OtCH2CH20~-tC-L-O~--H (V) B2 1 p m -8 n h in Rl-l R2-l p, m, L and n are as defined above; or (ii) the block copolymer of formula (IV) is com-pletely hydrolyzed to form a block copolymer of the following formula (VI) CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 ,~CH~CH2~0~CH2CH203~C--L--03--H (VI ) wherein p, m, n and L are as defined above.

The above steps provide a block copolymer of this invention which has a protected aldehyde group or an aldehyde group itself at the a-terminal of molecule, and a hydroxyl group at the ~-terminal.

Step (4) The block copolymer of formula (V) which has a prDtected aldehyde group at the a-terminal of molecule is allowed to react with (i) acetic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, cinnamic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid, or a reactive derivative thereof, or (ii) allyl halide or vinylbenzyl halide, or (iii) a halide represented by the following formula (VII) X~CH2~Z (VII ) q wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, q' is an integer of 1 - 20 and Z' is C1 6 alkoxycarbonyl or a protected amino, to form block copolymers of this invention each of which has a corresponding functional group other than hydroxyl group at the ~-terminal of molecule.

Step t5) The p-toluenesulfonic~ester obtained in (i) of CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Step (4) can be further converted, by means of transesterif;cation, into a block copolymer having another functional group (e.x., mercapto or amine) at the ~-terminal. The block copolymer which has an aldehyde-protecting group or a carboxyl-protecting group and which has been produced through the above steps can be converted, by means of hydrolysis reaction, into the block copolymer of this invention wherein one of the protecting groups or all the protecting groups are eliminated.
As another aspect, this invention provides a high-molecular micelle with use of the block copolymer of formula (I).
A part of thus obtained heterotelechelic polymer of this invention can be used as a precursor for the production of another polymer. As will be seen from their constituent components, these polymers are expect-ed to have bio-affinity and high bioavailability. They can therefore be used for materials directly applied to living organism such as carrier for drug delivery.
Moreover, in accordance with the third aspect, this invention provides a high-molecular micelle which is quite stable in an aqueous solvent. The polymer of this invention is therefore useful also for drug delivery to a certain organ.

Brief explanation of drawings Figure 1 is a gel permeation chromatogram of aGetal a-terminal/hydroxy ~-terminal polyester ox-ide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example1 ) .
Operational condition: TSK-Gel (G4000HXL, G3000HXL, G2500HXL) Eluent: THF (containing 2 % triethyl amine) Flow rate: 1 ml/min.

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Figure 2 shows proton nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of acetal a-terminal/hydroxy ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 1).

Figure 3 shows proton nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of acetal a-terminal/hydroxy ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/poly(o-valerolactone) block copolymer (the sample of Example 3).
Figure 4 shows proton nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of aldehyde a-terminaljhydroxy ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 4).
Figure 5 shows carbon nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of acetal a-terminal/methacryloyl ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 5).
Figure 6 shows carbon nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of acetal a-terminal/allyl ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 6).
Figure 7 shows carbon nuclear magnetic reso-nance spectra of acetal a-terminal/p-toluenesulfonyl ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 6).
Figure 8 shows the particle size distribution of high molecular micelle, determined by dynamic laser scattering, in an aqueous solution of aldehyde a-termi-nalthydroxy ~-terminal polyethylene oxide/polylactide block copolymer (the sample of Example 4).

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Detailed description of the invention The alkyl portion of alkoxy and alkyl in this invention mean straight chain- or branched-alkyl group.
Therefore, the alkyl portion of C1 10 alkoxy or C1 1~
alkyl in formula (II) and formula (III-a) include meth-yl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-pentyl, hexyl, 2-methyl pentyl, 3-methyl pentyl, octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, decyl and 4-propyl pentyl. In these, the alkyl portion in the alkoxy of R1 and R2 is preferably C1 6 alkyl, in particular Cl 3 alkyl.
Especially preferable examples of alkoxy of R1 and R therefore include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and isopropoxy. Examples of R1 and R2 include aryl, espe-cially phenyl, and aryl-Cl 3 alkyl, especially benzyl or phenethyl. These groups may be similar or different, but is preferably similar. Although R1 and R2 may de-note, combined with each other, ethylenedioxy (-0-CH(R')-CH2-0-: wherein R' denotes hydrogen atom or Cl 6 alkyl) which may be substituted with C1 6 alkyl, they are preferably ethylenedioxy, propylenedioxy or 1, 2-butylenedioxy.
When hydrolyzed, R1 and R2 of these groups are conveniently combined with each other to form oxy (= 0), or, in other words, to form the block copolymer of this invention which has an aldehyde group at the a-terminal of the molecule.
The mark "p" in formula (I) denotes an integer of 1 - 5. In view of the fact that the segment Rl~
~C H~C H 23--~--is derived from the polymerization initiator (See:
formula (II)) in the process of this invention, Rl, R2 and p are preferably~selected so that said segment CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 constitutes en bloc an acetal group such as dimethoxy-methoxy, 2, 2-dimethoxyethoxy, 3, 3-dimethoxypropoxy, 4, 4-dimethoxybutoxy, diethoxymethoxy, 2, 2-diethoxy-ethoxy, 3, 3-diethoxypropoxy, 4, 4-diethoxybutoxy, dipropoxymethoxy, 2, 2-dipropoxyethoxy, 3, 3-dipropoxy-propoxy or 4, 4-dipropoxybutoxy.
R3 and R~ may denote any of hydrogen atom, Cl 1~ alkyl, aryl or aryl-C1 3 alkyl so long as they are useful for the object of this invention. Preferable, however, are hydrogen atom tderived from glutaric acid) and methyl (derived from lactic acid) from the viewpoint of bioavailability.
According to the production process by means of living polymerization of this invention, the mark "m"
in formula (I) may theoretically take any figure if the amount ratio of ethylene oxide (monomer) to polymer-ization initiator is adjusted. In order to fulfill the object of this invention, however, m is preferably an integer of 2 - 10,000. In order that this segment may give hydrophilicity to the block copolymer of this invention, m is preferably an integer at least 10. For the purpose of easily adjusting the molecular weight distribution of th'is segment narrow and providing a block copolymer having excellent bioavailability, m is an integer of at most 500, preferably at most 200.
As for "n" which defines the molecular weight of polyester segment of formula (I), optimal number varies depending on the property of the groups R3 and R~
as will be seen from the fact that this segment mainly imparts hydrophobicity to the block copolymer of this invention. Following the polymerization process of this invention, n can take any number in the same manner as in the case of polyethylene oxide segment. The number of n is therefore not restricted. However, it is nor-mally 2 - 10,000.
Moreover, in order to keep hydrophilicity/

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 hydrophobicity balance well against polyethylene oxide segment, m preferably takes an integer of 10 - 200, in particular 10 - 100.
The segment -~CH2~ Z of formula (I) mainly specifies the funct;onal group (or reactive group) at ~-terminal of the block copolymer of this invention. When q is 0 (zero) (i.e., the case where Z is directly bound to oxygen atom at the ~-position of the polyester seg-ment), Z can be an alkali metal. In this case, the polymer of this invention can be a living polymer.
Since such a polymer of this invention can act as an initiator for further living polymerization, it is useful as a precursor for various kind of polymers.
From this viewpoint, examples of alkali metal include sodium, potassium and cesium.
The above living polymer is ready to provide a polymer wherein Z denotes hydrogen atom (or a polymer which has hydroxyl group at the ~-position) since the alcoholate portion of the living polymer is easily hydrolyzed. Said hydroxyl group can further be convert-ed into other functional groups by means of various reactions such as esterification or etherification.
Thus, when q is 0, Z can be acetyl (-COCH3), acryloyl (-COCH=CH2), methacryloyl (-COC(CH3)=CH2), cinnamoyl (-CHCH=CH ~ ) and p-toluenesulfonyl (-S02 ~ CH3)~
and, further, can be allyl (-CH2-CH=CH2) and vinylbenzyl (-CH2 ~ CH=CH2). When these functional groups have ethylenically unsaturated bond, pendant type polymers can be derived with use of said bond. When Z denotes p-toluenesulfonyl group, it can be converted by a known method into other functional group with use of trans-esterification. Z can therefore be 2-mercaptopropionyl or 2-aminopropionyl.
When q is an integer of 1 - 20, preferably 1 -4, especially preferably 2, the segment ~CH2~ Z denotesen bloc, for example, Cl 6 alkoxy (e.x., methoxy, ethoxy CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 or propoxy)carbonyl-methyl, -ethyl or -propyl, or 2-ami noethyl, carboxy-methyl, -ethyl or -propyl .
Table 1 bel ow shows examples of block copoly-mer of this invention which the above substituents (or 5 segments) are combi ned wi th one another to consti tute.

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Table 1 R' ~CH tCH2~-Ot CH2CH20~--{C-- L--O) (CH2t--Z (I) Rl P m o n q compound R ~ R 2P m*l~ L n*2' -~CHz~-Z
No o o CH3CH20 CH3CH20 2 280 -CHOICICH- 70 COCH= CH2 6 CH3CH20 CH3CH20 2 280 -CHOIClCH- 70 COC(CH3) = CH2 O

7 CH3CH20 CH3CH20 2 280 -CHOIClCH- 70 CH
o 8 CH3CH20 CH3CH20 2 280-CHOICICH- 70 S02 ~ CH3 Tabl e 1 (con ti nued ) Compound R 1 R 2 P m*l~ L n*2' ~CH2~Z
No q 9 CH3CH20 CH3CH20. 2 280-CHOIC~l~EI- 70CO-ICHSH

13 CH30 CHsO 2 100-CHOICICH- 70 H
o 14 CH3CH20 CH3CH2b 2 100~CH2~ 50 H

CH3CH20 CH3CH20 2 100~CH2~ 50 K

16 CII3CH20 CH3CH20 2 100~CH2~ 50 COCH=CH2 17 CH3CHzO CH3CH20 2 100~CH2~ 50 COC(CH3)=CH~

18 0= 2 280-CHOCCH- 40 H
o 19 0= 2 100-CHOIClCH- 70 H

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Tabl e 1 ( con ti nued ) compound R I R 2 P m*l~ L n*2' -~CH2~- Z
No 0 = 2 100-CHOIC~CH- 70 CocH=c~2 21 0 = 2 100-CHOIClCH- 70 C0C(CH3)=CH2 22 0 = 2 100-~H01CI~H- 70 CH2 23 0 = 2 100-CHOIClCH- 70 COCH3 24 0 = 3 100-CHOIClCH- 70 H
o 0 = 2 100 -~CH23~ 50 H
26 0 = 2 100 t CH23~ 50 C0CH=CH2 27 0 = 2 100 -~CH23~ 50 C0C(CH3)=CH2 ~1 ) and 2) show val ues cal cul ated f rom number average mol ec ul ar wei ght .

The above-menti oned heterotel echel i c bl oc k copolymer whi ch is to be provided by this i nventi on is 35 produced effi cientl y by the production process of this i nvention whi ch is shown by the following reaction s chemes .

Reacti o n Scheme CH~2 - CH2 R' /CH-~CH2~-0-M+
R2 p (A) Rl ~CH tCH2~-OtCH2CH20) CH2CH20 N+
R2 p m-l (B) R3yO\40 0 0~ \0 l R4 or Rl \CH tCH2~-0-~CH2CH20) (C- L-0) C- ~--0 N
R2 p m 11 n-lll O O
(C) -' \ R~ .
i) hydrolysis R2~ HtCH2~-0-~CH2CH20~-t~C~-L-0~--H
and/or ii) elimination of pro- (D) tecting groups Rl, R~
0~ .
,CHtCH2~-Ot CH2CH20) (C-- L--0~--H
H P m o n (D') D \ Rl \CHtCH2~0tCH2CH20~-tC-L-O t acyl or i) acylation R2 p - m O n ether ii) etherifi-cation (E) or ClSO2~CH3, \CHtCH2~-O-~CH2CH20~--t~C~-- L--O t S02 ~ H3 (F) M OC-- CHSH, or --NH2 0 R~ \
or alkalihydrosulfide Rl SH or NH2 \CHt CH2~ 0~ CH2CH20) (C-- L-- O t C-- CH
R2 p m 9 n 1l R"
(G) deprotection (E),(F) or (D~ CH2~-0~ CH2 ~ Z
(H) CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Production of (B) from (A):
Alkali metal acetal-protected alkoxide (A) is made to react with ethylene oxide to form compound (B) to which polyethylene oxide segment is added. Compound (A) can be obtained by treating acetal-protected alcohol with a metallizing agent such as alkali metal like sodium and potassium; organic metal like sodium naphtha-lene, potassium naphthalene, cumylpotassium and cumylcesium; or metal hydride like sodium hydride or potassium hydride.
The above reaction from (A) to (~) is made to occur without solvent, or preferably in an anhydrous aprotic solvent, and at a temperature in a broad range, e.x., -50~C - 300~ , preferably 10~C - 60~ , convenient-ly at a room temPerature (20~C - 30~C ). The reaction may be conducted either under pressure or under reduced pressure. Examples of solvent used include, not re-strict;vely, benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and acetonitrile. Examples of reactor include, not restrict;vely, round flask, autoclave and pressure sealed tube. Reactor is preferably sealed airtight, and is more preferably filled with inert gas. The concen-tration of reaction liquid is 0.1 to 95 % by weight, preferably 1 to 80 % by weight, most preferably 3 to 10 % by weight.

Production of (C) from (B):
A reaction mixture containing (B) is allowed to react with lactide or lactone to form a living block copolymer (C) wherein polyester segment is added via ~-terminal hydroxyl group of polyethylene oxide. The condition of this reaction can be almost the same as the above reaction from (A) to (B). Usable lactide or lactone is capable of forming such a chain as has been defined with regard to R3 and R4 of L of formula (I).
Examples of preferable lactide include, not restrictive CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 ly, lactide of lactic acid and lactide of glycolic acid.
Examples of usable lactone, on the other hand, include ~-propiolactone, ~-butyrolactone, o-valerolactone and ~-caprolactone. Among these, y-butyrolactone and o-valerolactone are preferable from the viewpoint of easy reactivity.
In the above stePs, the proportion of polymer-ization initiator to ethylene oxide, lactide or lactone is, in molar ratio, 1:1 to 1:10,000, more -preferably 1:5 to 1:10,000, most preferably 1:10-200 to 1:50-200.
The process of this invention not only makes it possible to adjust molecular weight of each segment according to the ratio of monomer used to polymerization initiator, but also provides a mono-dispersed or mono-modal block copolymer wherein each of the formed segments has a very narrow molecular weight distribu-tion.
The living polymer (C) itself which is ob-tained in the above manner is included in the polymer of this invention. The alcoholate (C~, however, can be converted (i) into polymer (D) by partial hydrolysis under a moderate condition (i.e., only adding water), or (ii) into polymer (D') which has an aldehyde group at a-terminal and a hydroxyl group at ~-terminal by means of treating (C) under a condition wherein acetal can be simultaneously hydrolyzed. The latter hydrolysis can be carried out with use of acids such as trifluoroacetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, formic acid and hydrogen fluoride, or alkalis such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and, if neces-sary, with heating.

Production of (E) - (G) from (D):
(D) is made to react with (i) acetic acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid to form an ~-terminal CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 acyl compound, or (ii) a halide represented by formula (V) halo-E (V) wherein halo and E in formula (V) corre-spond to groups other than acyl group in -~CH2~ Z in formula (I) to form an ~-terminal ether compound.

The above reactions can be conducted by known esterification or etherification process. As for organ-ic acid in the above (i), it is convenient to use a reactive derivative of organic acid such as acid anhy-dride and acid halide.
When a mercapto group is to be introduced ontothe ~-terminal, it is useful to make a p-toluenesulfo-nated compound (F) react with an electrophilic agent such as thiosodium acetate, thiopotassium acetate or potassium hydrosulf;de so that a thioester group may be introduced onto the ~-terminal, and thereafter to treat said thioester group with acid or alkali, and, then, there can be obtained a polymer represented by (G).
When an amino group is to be introduced onto the ~-terminal, it is useful to hydrolyze (D) with use of an electrophilic agent such as N-(2-bromoethyl)-phthalimide, N-(3-bromopropyl)phthalimide, 1-bromo-2-(benzenamino)ethane or N-(2-bromoethyl)benzyl carbamate, and thereafter to conduct an alkali or acid treatment so as to eliminate the groups Rl and R2, and to simulta-neously hydrolyze ~-terminal imide bond, and, thus, there can be obtained a polymer which has an amino group at ~-terminal.
Elimination of the groups Rl and R2 from polymers (D), (E), (F) and (G) for the purpose of ob-taining a-terminal aldehyde can be conducted by the CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 above-mentioned conversion from (C) to tD'). As for the recovery of polymer from the reaction liquid, it can be carried out by solvent precipitation of the polymer per se, gel filtration chromatography, dialysis, ultrafil-tration or the like.
In this manner, there can be obtained various kind of heterotelechelic block copolymers represented by formula (I) of this invention. The obtained polymer (except living polymer) is capable of forming a h;gh-molecular micelle which is very stable in an aqueoussolvent.
This high-molecular micelle can be prepared by, for example, subjecting a polymer solution or sus-pension to a heating treatment, an ultrasonification treatment and an organic solvent treatment, separately or in combination. Heating treatment is conducted by dispersing or dissolving a mixture of one or more spe-cies of block copolymers of this invention in water at a temperature ranging from 30 - 100~ , more preferably 30 - 50~ . Ultrasonification is conducted by dispersing a mixture of one or more species of block copolymers in water in a range from 1W to 20W for one second to 24 hours, preferably in a range from 1W to 3W for three hours.
Organic solvent treatment is conducted by dissolving a mixture of one or more species of block copolymers in an organic solvent, dispersing the result-ing solution in water and thereafter evaporating the organic solvent. Examples of the organic solvent in-clude chloroform, benzene, toluene, methylene chloride, etc.
It is also possible to prepare the high-molec-ular micelle of this invention by dissolving said mix-ture in methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide or the like, and thereafter dialyzing the resulting solution~against an CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 aqueous solvent. The fractional molecular weight of the membrane used for the dialysis is not restricted since optimal value varies according to the molecuar we;ght of block coPolymer to be treated. Generally, however, the fractional molecular weight is at most 1,000,000, pref-erably 5,000 - 20,000.
As an aqueous solvent, there can be employed water and buffer solution. The proportion of the aque-ous solution used to the above organic solvent in dialy-sis is generally 1 to 1000 times, preferably 10 to 100times. Temperature is not restricted in particular.
Normally, the treatment is conducted at 5 - 25~ .
Thus produced high-molecular micelle of this invention has a critical micelle concentration as low as 4 - 12 mg/~, and is much more stable in an aqueous solvent than low-molecular micelle such as liposome which has widely been given consideration as a carrier for drug delivery. This means that, when administered into blood, the high-molecular micelle of this invention is expected to significantly increase in half-life in blood, and, thus, it can be said that the polymer of this invention has excellent properties as a carrier for drug delivery.
Below, this invention is explained in more detail with the working examples, but these working examples do not limit the area covered by this invention in any way.

Example 1 THF 20 ml, 3, 3-diethoxypropanol 0.15 9, and a potassium naphthalene 0.5 mol/L-tetrahydrofuran solution 2 ml was added to the reaction container and agitated for 3 minutes in an argon atmosphere; a potassium com-pound of 3, 3-diethoxypropanol (potassium 3, 3-diethoxy-propanoxide) was produced.
Ethyleneoxide 8.8 9 was added to this solution CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 and agitated at room temperature and 1 atm. After reacting for two days, lactide 7.2 9 was added quantita-tively to this reaction solution and then agitated for one hour. This solution was poured into cooled propanol and the polymer produced was precipitated. The precipi-tate attained through centrifugal separation was refined by freeze drying from benzene. This yield was 15.0 9 (94%). The polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was mono-modal, the molecular weight of the polymer was 16,000 (Figure 1).
According to the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, this polymer was confirmed to be the heterotelechelic oligomer having both units of polyeth-ylene oxide (PE0) and polyactide (PL) and quantitativelyhaving acetal group on the a-terminal and hydroxy group on the ~-terminal (Figure 2). The number average molec-ular weight of each segment of the block polymer deter-mined by the integral ratio of the spectra were 8800 for PE0 and 7000 for PL.

Example 2 THF 20 ml, 3, 3-diethoxypropanol 0.15 9, and a potassium naphthalene 0.5 mol/L-tetrahydrofuran solution 2 ml was added to the reaction container and agitated for 3 minutes in an argon atmosphere; a potassium com-pound of 3, 3-diethoxypropanol (potassium 3, 3-diethoxy-propanoxide) was produced.
Ethylene oxide 5.7 9 was added to this solu-tion and agitated at room temperature under 1 atm.After reacting for two days, lactide 7.2 9 was added to this reaction solution and agitated for one hour. This solution was poured into cold propanol and the polymer produced was precipitated. The precipitate attained through centrifugal separation was refined by freeze drying from benzene. This yield was 12.4 9 (95%). The CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was mono-modal, the molecular weight of the polymer was about 12,000.
According to the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, this polymer was confirmed to be the heterotelechelic oligomer having both units of polyeth-ylene oxide (PE0) and polylactide (PL) and quantitative-ly having acetal group on the o-terminal and hydroxy group on the ~-terminal. The number average molecular weight of each segment of the block polymer determined by the integral ratio of the spectra were 5400 for PEO
and 6600 for PL.

Example 3 THF 20 ml, 3, 3-diethoxypropanol 0.15 9, and a potassium naphthalene 0.5 mol/L-tetrahydrofuran solution 2 ml was added to the reaction container and agitated for 3 minutes in an argon atmosphere; a potassium com-pound of 3, 3-diethoxypropanol (potassium 3, 3-diethoxy-propanoxide) was produced.
Ethylene oxide 8.8 9 was added to this solu-tion and agitated at room temperature under 1 atm.
After reacting for two days, o-valerolactone 5.0 9 was added to this reaction solution and agitated for one hour. This solution was poured into cold propanol and the polymer produced was precipitated. The precipitate attained through centrifugal separation was refined by freeze drying from benzene. This yield was 13.5 9 (97%). The polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was mono-modal, the molecular weight of the polymer was about 14,000.
According to the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, this polymer was confirmed to be the heterotelechelic oligomer having both units of Polyeth-CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 ylene oxide (PEO) and polyto-valerolactone) tPVL) and quantitatively having acetal group on the a-terminal and hydroxy group on the ~-terminal tFigure 3). The number average molecular weight of the block polymer determined by the integral ratio of the spectra were 8800 for PEO
and 5200 for PVL.

Example 4 2.0 mol/L-HCl 50 ml was added to methanol 50 ml in which the block copolymer sample attained in Example 2 was dissolved and this was agitated 1 hour at room temperature. After this solution was neutralized w;th NaOH aqueous solution, four hours of dialys;s tfractional molecular weight 1000) was performed against 20 times the amount of water and this was refined by freeze drying. The yield was 0.85 t85%). The molecular weight of the polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was confirmed to be unchanged from that before the reaction.
According to the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, the acetal group disappeared from the a-terminal of this polymer and instead a peak originat-ing with the aldehyde was observed; it was confirmed to be a heterotelechelic PEO/PL oligomer quantitat;vely hav;ng an aldehyde group on the a-terminal and a hydroxy group on the ~-term;nal tFigure 4).

Example 5 Pyridine 20 ml and methacrylic anhydride 1.0 9 were added to chloroform 20 ml in which 1.0 9 of the block copolymer sample attained in Example 2 was dis-solved and this was agitated 24 hours at room tempera-ture. This solution was neutralized and rinsed with a hydrochloric acid aqueous solution. The chloroform phase was poured into cold propanol and the polymer was CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 precipitated. The precip;tate attained through centrif-ugal separation was refined by freeze drying from ben-zene. This yield was 0.8 9 (80%). The molecular we;ght of th,e polymer attained through gel permeation chroma-tography was confirmed to be unchanged from before thereaction.
According to the carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, the peak originating with the hydroxy group on the ~-terminal of this polymer disappeared completely and instead a peak derived from the methacryloyl group was expressed, the polymer was con-firmed to be a heterotelechelic PE0/PL oligomer quanti-tatively having an acetal group on the a-terminal and a methacryloyl group on the ~-terminal (Figure 5).

Example 6 Potassium naphthalene 0.5 mol/L-tetra-hydrofuran solution 2 ml and allyl bromide 5 ml were added to tetrahydrofuran 20 ml in which the block copol-ymer 1.0 9 attained in Example 2 was dissolved and agitated for four hours at room temperature. The reac-tion product attained was poured into cold propanol and the polymer was precipitated. The precipitate attained through centrifugal separation was refined by freeze drying from benzene. This yield was 0.98 9 (98%). The molecular weight of the polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was confirmed to be unchanged from before the reaction.
According,to the carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, the peak originating with the hydroxy group on the ~-terminal of this polymer disappeared completely and instead a peak derived from the allyl group was expressed; the polymer was confirmed to be a heterotelechelic PE0/PL oligomer quantitatively having CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 an acetal group on the a-terminal and an allyl group on the ~-terminal tFigure 6).

Example 7 Potassium naphthalene 0.5 mol/L-tetrahydro-furan solution 2 ml and paratoluene sulfonylchloride 5 9 were added to the tetrahydrofuran 20 ml in which the block copolymer sample 1.0 9 attained in Example 4 was dissolved and this was agitated for 4 hours at room temperature. The reaction product attained was poured into cold propanol and the polymer was precipitated.
The precipitate attained through centrifugal separation was refined by freeze drying from benzene. This yield was 0.95 9 (95~). The molecular weight of the polymer attained through gel permeation chromatography was confirmed to be unchanged from before the reaction.
According to the carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the chloroform deuteride of the polymer attained, the peak originating with the hydroxy group on the ~-terminal of this polymer disappeared completely and instead a peak derived from the paratoluene sulfonyl group was expressed; the polymer was confirmed to be a heterotelechelic PE0/PL oligomer quantitatively having an acetal group on the a-terminal and a paratoluene sulfonyl group on the ~-terminal (Figure 7).

Example 8 The block copolymer 50 mg attained in Example 2 is dissolved in water or an appropriate buffer solu-tion so as to become 0.01-0.1% (w/v). When the micelle formation in these solutions was confirmed with particle size distribution measurement by dynamic light scatter-ing, the formation of a single polymer micelle with average grain diameter 30 nm was confirmed (Figure 8).
The critical micelle concentration of this polymer CA 022l849~ l997- lO- l7 micelle was 10 mg/L.

Example 9 A reactor was charged with 30 ml of THF, 0.13 g of 3, 3-diethoxypropanol and 2 ml solut;on of potassi-um naphthalene dissolved in tetrahydrofuran in a concen-tration of 0.5 mol/L-tetrahydrofuran, and the resulting mixture was stirred for three minutes in an argon atmo-sphere, and, thus, there was formed a potassium deriva-tive (potassium 3, 3-diethoxypropanoxide) of 3, 3-diethoxypropanol.
There was added 7.0 9 of ethylene oxide to the resulting solution, which was then stirred at 1 atm and at a room temperature. After two days-reaction was over, 7.2 9 of lactide of lactic acid was added to the reaction liquid, which was then stirred for further one hour. Thus produced solution was poured into cooled propanol so as to precipitate the formed polymer.
Centrifugalized precipitate was purified by freeze drying from benzene. The yield was 11.5 9 (79 %). The polymer obtained by gel permeation chromatography was mono-modal and had a number average molecular weight of 1 1, 000 .
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the obtained polymer in chloroform deuteride taught that this polymer was a heterotelechelic oligomer which had both units of polyethylene oxide (PE0) and polylactide (PL) and which quantitatively had an acetal group at the a-terminal and a hydroxyl group at the ~-terminal. As for the number average molecular weight of each segment of this block polymer obtained from integral ratio of the spectra, it was 5800 for PE0, and 5100 for PL.
There was dissolved 200 mg of the obtained block polymer into 40 ml of dimethylacetamide, and the 35 resulting solution was dialyzed against water with use of dialytic membrane having a fractional molecular CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 weight of 12,000 - 14,000 over a period of 24 hours (water was exchanged after 2, 5 and 8 hours, each two liters). Dynamic light scattering measurement of the obtained solution taught that there had been formed high-molecular micelle having an average particle size of 40 nm. The critical micelle concentration of this micelle was 5 mg/~.

Example 10 There was added dropwise 0.1 N hydrochloric acid to 10 ml of micelle solution obtained in Exampl'e 9 so that pH might be adjusted to 2, and, then, the solu-tion was stirred for two hours at a room temperature.
Thereafter, the solution was neutralized with 0.1 N
aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and, then, the resulting solution was dialyzed against water with use of dialytic membrane having a fractional molecular weight of 12,000 - 14,000 over a period of 24 hours (water was exchanged after 2, 5 and 8 hours, each two liters). Dynamic light scattering measurement of the obtained solution taught that there had been formed high-molecular micelle having an average particle size of 40 nm. The critical micelle concentration of this micelle was 5 mg/~.
This micelle solution was freeze-dried, and then was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide deuteride and was subjected to NMR measurement. It was found that the signal derived from acetal group at 1.2 ppm and 4.6 ppm had almost completely disappeared, and there was ob-served signal derived from hydrogen of carbonyl methy-lene and hydrogen of aldehyde at 2.7 ppm (t) and 9.8 ppm (s) respectively. From area ratio of the signal, it was found that 95 % of acetal had been hydrolyzed into aldehyde.

CA 0221849~ 1997-10-17 Example 11 There was dissolved 200 mg of PE0/PL block polymer (number average molecular weight of each seg-ment: PEO: 4,500; PL: 13,000), which had been synthe-sized in the same manner as in Example 1, into 40 ml ofdimethylacetamide, and the resulting solution was dia-lyzed against water with use of dialytic membrane having a fractional molecular weight of 12,000 - 14,000 over a period of 24 hours (water was exchanged after 2, 5 and 8 hours, each two liters). Dynamic light scattering measurement of the obtained solution taught that there had been formed high-molecular micelle having an average particle size of 30 nm. The critical micelle concentra-tion of this micelle was 4 mg/Ç.
Industrial applicability This invention provides a heterotelechelic oligomer or polymer which has different functional groups at both ends of its molecule and which has hydro-philic segment and hydrophobic segment in its mainchain. It is expected from its constituent components that this oligomer of polymer will show excellent bioavailability. Furthermore, this oligomer or polymer is capable of forming high-molecular micelle which is quite stable in an aqueous solvent.
It is therefore highly possible that the oligomer or polymer can be applied to living organism, or can be utilized in a field wherein a carrier for drug delivery is produced and/or used.

Claims

1. A heterotelechelic block copolymer which is represented by formula (I) below:

(I) wherein R1 and R2 independently denote C1-10 alkoxy, aryloxy or aryl-C1-3 alkyloxy, or R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote ethylenedioxy (-O-CH(R')-CH2-O-: wherein R1 denotes hydrogen atom or C1-6 alkyl) which may be substituted with C1-6 alkyl) or, combined with each other, denote oxy (= O), L denotes or wherein R3 and R4 independently denote hydrogen atom, C1-10 alkyl, aryl or aryl-C1-3 alkyl, and r denotes an integer of 2 - 5, m denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000, n denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000, p denotes an integer of 1 - 5, q denotes an integer of 0 - 20, Z denotes, when q is 0 (zero), hydrogen atom, alkali metal, acetyl, acryloyl, methacryloyl, cinnamoyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, 2-mercaptopropionyl or 2-aminopropionyl, or allyl or vinylbenzyl, while, when q is an integer of 1 - 20, denoting C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxymercapto or amino.

2. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote oxy.

3. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2 independently denote C1-6 alkoxy, phenyloxy or benzyloxy, or, when combined with each other, denote ethylenedioxy which may be substituted with C1-3 alkyl-

4. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote oxy; and, in L, both R3 and R4 are hydrogen atom or methyl, or r denotes an integer of 4; and q denotes an integer of 0 - 3.

5. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2 independently denote C1-6 alkoxy;
and, in L, both R3 and R4 are hydrogen atom or methyl, or r denotes an integer of 4; and q denotes an integer of 0 - 3.

6. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein m denotes an integer of 10 - 200, and n denotes an integer of 10 - 200.

7. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote oxy; and, in L, both R3 and R4 are hydrogen atom or methyl, or r denotes an integer of 4; and q denotes 0 (zero); and Z denotes hydrogen atom, acetyl, acryloyl, methacryloyl, cinnamoyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, allyl or vinylbenzyl.

8. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2 independently denote C1-6 alkoxy;

and, in L, both R3 and R4 are methyl, or r denotes an integer of 4; and q denotes 0 (zero); and Z denotes hydrogen atom, or sodium, potassium or cesium.

9. The heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote oxy; and, in L, both R3 and R4 are methyl, or r denotes an integer of 4; and q denotes an integer of 1 - 3; and Z denotes C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, mercapto or amino.

10. A process to produce the heterotelechelic block copolymer of formula (I) of claim 1 which comprises the following steps:

Step (1) A polymerization initiator represented by the following formula (II) (II) wherein R1-1 and R2-1 independently denote C1-10 alkoxy, or, combined with each other, denote ethylenedioxy which may be substituted with C1-6 alkyl, p denotes an integer of 1 - 5 and M denotes alkali metal is made to react with ethyleneoxide so that a compound represented by the following formula (III) may be produced:

(III) wherein R1-1 R2-1 p and M are as defined in formula (II), and m denotes an integer of 2 - 10,000;

Step (2) The compound of formula (II) is allowed to react with lactide or lactone which is represented by the following formula (III-a) or (III-b):

(III-a) or (III-b) wherein R3 and R4 independently denote hydrogen atom, C1-10 alkyl, aryl or aryl-C1-3 alkyl, and r denotes an integer of 2 - 5, so that a block copolymer represented by the following formula (IV) may be formed:

(IV) wherein L denotes and R1-1, R2-1 , p, m, n and M are as defined above;

and, in addition under circumstances, Step (3) (i) The alkali metal alkoxide of formula (IV) is selectively hydrolyzed to form a block copolymer of the following formula (V) (V) wherein R1-1, R2-1, p, m, L and n are as defined above; or (ii) the block copolymer of formula (IV) is completely hydrolyzed to form a block copolymer of the following formula (VI) (VI) wherein p, m, n and L are as defined above;
Step (4) The block copolymer of formula (V) is allowed to react with (i) acetic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, cinnamic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid, or a reactive derivative thereof, or (ii) allyl halide or vinylbenzyl halide, or (iii) a halide represented by the following formula (VII) (VII) wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, q' is an integer of 1 - 20 and Z' is C1-6 alkoxycarbonyl or a protected amino;

and, under circumstances, Step (5) The p-toluenesulfonic ester derivative produced in (i) of Step (4) is subjected to trans-esterification, or the derivatives produced in (i), (ii) or (iii) of Step (4) are subjected to hydrolysis reaction.

11. A high-molecular micelle which comprises the heterotelechelic block copolymer of claim 1 as an active component in an aqueous solvent.

12. The high-molecular micelle of claim 11 wherein Z denotes a group other than alkali metal in the hetero-telechelic block copolymer of formula (I) of claim 1.

13. The high-molecular micelle of claim 11 wherein Z denotes a group other than alkali metal while R1 and R2, combined with each other, denote oxy in the heterotelechelic block copolymer of formula (I) of claim 1.