Method involving 1-benzotriazolyl carbonate esters of polymers

1. 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,

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 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, and poly(N-acryloylmorpholine).

2. The method 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).

3. The method 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).

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,000 Da.

5. The method 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.

6. The method 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.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein POLY is poly(ethylene glycol).

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,00 Da.

9. The method 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 selected from the group consisting of glycerol and

pentaerythritol;

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.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of POLY a and POLY b is a poly(ethylene glycol).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of POLYa and POLYb has an average molecular weight from about 200 Da to about 100,00 Da.

12. The method of claim 9 , 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.

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

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, chloroform, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and mixtures thereof.

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

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, quinoline, trialkylamines, and mixtures thereof.

17. The method 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.

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

19. The method 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.

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

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a biologically active agent.