Abstract Poly(α-amino acid)s, containing amino acid repeat units, are remarkable biomaterials with similar structures to protein, which are mainly synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis, ring opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides, polymerization of activated urethane derivatives of α-amino acids and so on. α-Amino acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride (NTA) and N-substituted glycine N-thiocarboxyanhydride (NNTA) have recently emerged as a subject of scientific interest due to their easy synthesis and purification in open air, long shelf-life and well controlled polymerization to produce poly(α-amino acid)s. In this feature article, we review the history and the recent development on the design of NTA monomers, and summarize the recent advances in poly(α-amino acid)s synthesis through ring-opening polymerization of NTA and NNTA by using different initiators and reaction mediums. We also highlight the applications of poly(α-amino acid) materials resulting from NTA polymerization.

中文翻译：

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α-氨基酸 N-硫代羧酸酐：一种合成聚（α-氨基酸）的新方法

摘要 含有氨基酸重复单元的聚（α-氨基酸）是一种结构与蛋白质相似的显着生物材料，主要通过固相肽合成、N-羧酸酐的开环聚合、α-氨基甲酸酯活化衍生物的聚合合成。 -氨基酸等。α-氨基酸 N-硫代羧酸酐 (NTA) 和 N-取代甘氨酸 N-硫代羧酸酐 (NNTA) 由于它们在露天容易合成和纯化、保质期长和聚合控制良好，最近成为科学兴趣的主题。生产聚（α-氨基酸）。在这篇专题文章中，我们回顾了 NTA 单体设计的历史和最新发展，并总结了使用不同引发剂和反应介质通过NTA和NNTA开环聚合合成聚（α-氨基酸）的最新进展。我们还重点介绍了由 NTA 聚合产生的聚（α-氨基酸）材料的应用。