Method for the preparation of 1-benzotriazolyl carbonate esters of poly(ethylene glycol)

1. A cross-linked polymer composition prepared by a method comprising:

(i) reacting a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups with di(1-benzotriazolyl)carbonate to form a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups; and

(ii) reacting the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups with a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having three or more primary amino groups under conditions effective to form a cross-linked polymer composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer within each of (a) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups, (b) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups, and (c) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having three or more primary amino groups, the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer in each of (a), (b) and (c) is independently selected from the group consisting of poly(alkylene glycol), poly(oxyethylated polyol), poly(olefinic alcohol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(hydroxypropylmethacrylamide), poly(α-hydroxy acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyphosphazene, polyoxazoline, poly(N-acryloylmorpholine), and copolymers, terpolymers, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer within the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having three or more primary amino groups is selected from polyethylene glycol having a plurality of amino groups, proteins, aminocarbohydrates, and poly(vinylamine).

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer within each of (a) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups, and (b) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups is a poly(ethylene glycol).

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,000 Da.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups has from 2 to 300 hydroxyl groups.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups has the structure:

wherein POLY is a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer backbone; and R′ is a 1-benzotriazolyl ester.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein POLY is poly(ethylene glycol).

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,00 Da.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups has the structure:

wherein:

POLY a and POLY b are each a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer backbone that may be the same or different;

R is a central core molecule;

q is an integer from 2 to about 300; and

each X is independently either an inert capping group or a functional group, where at least one X is 1-benzotriazolyl ester.

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein each of POLY a and POLY b is a poly(ethylene glycol).

12. The composition of claim 10 , wherein each of POLYa and POLYb has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,00 Da.

13. The composition of claim 10 , wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, hydroxyl, protected hydroxyl, active ester, active carbonate, acetal, aldehyde, aldehyde hydrates, alkenyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, active sulfone, protected amine, protected hydrazide, thiol, protected thiol, carboxylic acid, protected carboxylic acid, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, maleimide, vinylsulfone, dithiopyridine, vinylpyridine, iodoacetamide, epoxide, glyoxal, dione, mesylate, tosylate, and tresylate.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein step (i) is conducted in an organic solvent.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, chloroform, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and mixtures thereof.

16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein step (i) is conducted in the presence of base.

17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, quinoline, trialkylamines, and mixtures thereof.

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein in step (i), the molar ratio of di(1-benzotriazolyl)carbonate to the number of hydroxyl groups associated with the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups is about 30:1 or less.

19. The composition of claim 1 , wherein step (ii) is carried out in an aqueous medium.

20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer within each of (a) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more terminal hydroxyl groups, (b) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having two or more 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester groups, and (c) the water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer having three or more primary amino groups comprises one or more degradable linkages.

21. The composition of claim 1 , said composition forming a hydrogel in aqueous media.

22. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a biologically active agent.