Lipase catalyzed copolymerization of 3(S)-isopropylmorpholine-2,5-dione and D,L-lactide

The polymerization and copolymerization of 3(S)-isopropylmorpholine-2,5-dione (IPMD) and D,L-lactide (DLLA) were carried out in the presence of Porcine pancreatic lipase type II (PPL) as a catalyst at 100 degrees C for 168 h. Homopolymers and random copolymers of various compositions were obtained with a carboxylic acid group at one end and a hydroxyl group at the other end. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers decreases with increasing mole fraction of DLLA residue in the copolymers.