Ca–O Binding of Poly[1-carboxylate-2-(N-t- butylcarbamoyl)ethylene-alt-ethylene] and Calcium Carbonate Composites

A novel poly(carboxylate) ligand was synthesized as a ligand for a crystalline CaCO3-organic composite. Poly[1-carboxylate-2-(N-t-butylcarbamoyl)ethylene-alt-ethylene] has a 7-membered ring with an intramolecular NH·O hydrogen bond between the carboxylate group and the neighboring amide NH proton in the anionic carboxylate form. The configuration of the polymer ligand was estimated with polymer repeat-unit models, (S,S)- or (R,R)-2-(N-t-butylcarbamoyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ((S,S)- or (R,R)-TBCA) and (S,R)- 2-(N-t-butylcarbamoyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ((S,R)-TBCA). The proton NMR spectum of the carboxylate anion of (S,S)- or (R,R)-TBCA exhibits a non-hydrogen bonded NH signal at 7.31 ppm in Me2SO-d 6. (S,R)-TBCA shows a strongly NH·O hydrogen-bonded NH signal at 8.50 ppm. The observation of one strongly NH·O hydrogen bonded NH signal at 11.3 ppm indicates that the polymer anion has a threo-form in the zigzag polymer main chain. Moreover, a polymer ligand-CaCO3 composite was synthesized. The composite was characterized by 13C cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The polymer ligand stabilizes the Ca–O (carboxylate) bond in the CaCO3 composite. This prevents dissociation due to pKa shifts of the NH·O hydrogen bond and controls the crystal growth toward metastable vaterite.