Summary: The well‐controlled reduction of polyketone carbonyl functional group was performed without chain degradation by using NaBH4 in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/MeOH solvent mixtures. Three different families of flexible polyketones (alternating propene/CO “PCO”, hex‐1‐ene/CO “HxCO” copolymers, and “pulse feed” alternating olefin/CO terpolymers from ethene and propene “EPCO”) were investigated to achieve either a partial reduction, leading to poly(ketone‐co‐alcohol)s of corresponding composition, or a complete conversion into polyalcohols. Increasing the ratio of [OH]/[CO] functions allows continuous change of the Tg of the resulting polymers from below room temperature to about 75 °C. Properties of the synthesized materials, like thermal decomposition, glass transition temperature, surface tension, and mechanical performance, are described depending on the degree of reduction. Thermoplastic elastomers with an interesting “shape memory” effect result from the partially reduced, elastic EPCO terpolymers.Stress‐strain curves for ethylene‐propylene/CO copolymers reduced to different extents.imageStress‐strain curves for ethylene‐propylene/CO copolymers reduced to different extents.

Full Paper: Novel 1,4-polyketones were synthesized by a Pd II catalyzed copolymerization reaction from cheap technical monomers. The spectrum of mechanical properties ranges from highly crystalline, hard materials to thermoplastic, soft elastomers. The hydrophilicity of the surface is adjustable from nonpolar to highly polar by a proper choice of the a-olefin component. This control of polymer properties is a basis for the development of new biocompatible materials. The results of standardized as well as more specific in vitro tests clearly demonstrate the nontoxicity of the investigated copolymers.Polyketone synthesis.

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The influence of polymer polarity of three different CO/alkene copolymers on the production of bone materials by human bone marrow cells was demonstrated. The effects were measured by a specific immunohistochemical glycoprotein (osteonectin, osteopontin) test. Von Kossa staining, as an integral indicator for the formation of hard tissue on the biomaterial surfaces, visualized the obtained findings. The results clearly demonstrated an increase in mineralization activities with decreasing polarity of the tested polymers.Von Kossa staining of octadecene‐propene‐carbonmonoxide matrix (OdPCO).magnified imageVon Kossa staining of octadecene‐propene‐carbonmonoxide matrix (OdPCO).