Cleaving Cellulose into Oligomers with Controllable Chain Lengths Using Synthetic Mimics of Cellulases

Cellulose is an abundant biopolymer, but its depolymerization is difficult due to its high crystallinity and stability of glycosidic bonds. We report facile methods to produce synthetic mimics of cellulases from readily prepared template molecules and functional monomers. Molecular imprinting in cross-linked micelles and a one-step postmodification yield the final catalysts with enzyme-rivaling activities in cellulose hydrolysis. Cello-oligomers, which otherwise have to be prepared using concentrated acids in days and weeks, are obtained in controllable chain lengths near almost neutral conditions. Unlike natural cellulases that are difficult to recycle, the robust polymeric catalysts retain >70% of activity after 10 reaction cycles.