Polymer-Bound Scavengers

Polymer scavengers are functionalized polymers that are designed to react with and bind excess reagents and by- products, facilitating their removal by simple filtration. The desired product remains in solution. Because the functional groups are enclosed within resin beads, it is possible to use multiple scavengers in a single step. Functionalities that would react with each other when present as small molecules can be used simultaneously when they are resin-bound. 

Biotage uses two different resin types for its scavengers, 1% crosslinked poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) and highly crosslinked, macroporous polystyrene. The 1% crosslinked polystyrene is designated by PS-. MP- designates highly crosslinked, macroporous resin.

Lightly crosslinked polystyrenes typically require the use of solvents that will swell the resin to allow reagents access to the resin-bound functional groups. In cases where the solvent does not swell the resin, it may be necessary to add a co-solvent that is compatible with resin swelling, e.g. THF. Swelling data can be found in the specification documents for the individual resins.

Highly crosslinked macroporous resins swell significantly less in solvent and they are not dependent on swelling to be effective. Instead, reagents diffuse through the pore structure to reach reactive sites. For this reason, MP- resins can be used in confined volumes where swelling would be a problem. They can also be used with a much wider variety of solvents.

Scavenger Solution Phase Selection Table