Novel synthesis of biodegradable linear and star block copolymers based on ε‐caprolactone and lactides using potassium‐based catalyst |
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| Authors: | Yahia Lemmouchi Michael C Perry Allan J Amass Khirud Chakraborty Etienne Schacht |
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| Institution: | 1. Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, United Kingdom;2. Robinson Brothers Limited, Phoenix Street, West Bromwich, B70 0AH, United Kingdom;3. Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S‐4, B‐9000 Ghent, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Biodegradable, triblock poly(lactide)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(lactide) (PLA‐b‐PCL‐b‐PLA) copolymers and 3‐star‐(PCL‐b‐PLA) block copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of lactides in the presence of poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol or 3‐star‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) triol as macroinitiator and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at room temperature to yield monomodal polymers of controlled molecular weight. The chemical structure of the copolymers was investigated by 1H and 13C‐NMR. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by NMR and DSC investigations. The effects of copolymer composition and molecular structure on the physical properties were investigated by GPC and DSC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5363–5370, 2008 |
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| Keywords: | aliphatic polyesters biocompatible biodegradable block copolymers potassium catalyst ring opening polymerization |
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