Aldehyde-functionalized polyethers and method of making same

1. A compound of the formula:

OHC—CH 2 —S—(P)—S—-CH 2 CHO; or   a)

Q[(PA)-S—CH 2 CHO] m   b)

wherein:

(i) P is a linear polymeric segment terminating with a methylene group at both ends of said segment, wherein said segment is derived from a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene oxide, poly(trimethyleneoxide), poly(tetramethyleneoxide), block or random copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, and triblock copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide;

(ii) Q is a core molecule consisting of a polyol containing at least a number m of OH groups and with the hydrogen removed from at least m of said OH groups;

(iii) PA is a linear polymeric arm terminating with a methylene group at both ends of said arm, wherein said arm is derived from a polymer selected from polyethylene oxide, poly(trimethyleneoxide), poly(tetramethyleneoxide), block or random copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, and triblock copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide;

(iv) S is a sulfur atom; and

(v) m =2 to 16.

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein P is derived from polyethylene oxide.

3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein PA is derived from polyethylene oxide.

4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein P has a number-average molecular weight of about 200 to about 20,000 Daltons.

5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein PA has a number-average molecular weight of about 100 to about 10,000 Daltons.

6. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (a) is a linear polyethylene glycol bis(thiomethylaldehyde) having a number-average molecular weight of about 600 Daltons.

7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (b) is a four-arm polyethylene glycol tetra(thiomethylaldehyde) having a number-average molecular weight of about 2,000 Daltons.

8. A process for making a compound of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

a) reacting at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 100° C. in the presence of a base and an optional solvent, 1-thioglycerol and at least one polyether having one or more leaving groups capable of being displaced by the 1-thioglycerol, to form a thiomethylethylene glycol-functionalized polyether having at least one glycol group;

b) separating the thiomethylethylene glycol-functionalized polyether from the optional solvent and unreacted 1-thioglycerol;

c) oxidizing the thiomethylethylene glycol-functionalized polyether separated in step (b) with about one equivalent of an oxidizing agent per glycol group, said oxidizing agent being capable of converting said glycol group to an aldehyde group, at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 50° C. in an aqueous solution to form the aldehyde-functionalized polyether; and

d) recovering said aldehyde-functionalized polyether.

9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the temperature in step (a) is between about 90° C. and about 100° C.

10. The process according to claim 8 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, and potassium hydroxide.

11. The process according to claim 8 wherein the optional solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran, and mixtures thereof.

12. The process according to claim 8 wherein the one or more leaving groups are selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, mesylate, and tosylate.

13. The process according to claim 8 wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium periodate, potassium periodate, and periodic acid.

14. The process according to claim 8 wherein the temperature in step (c) is about 0° C. to about 25° C.

15. The process according to claim 8 wherein the at least one polyether having one or more leaving groups is a linear or branched polyethylene glycol derivative.