Aliphatic polyesters. III. Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution in alcohol-initiated polymerizations of ϵ-caprolactone

The effect of initiation of ?-caprolactone polymerization with mono- and polyfunctional alcohols was investigated. The resulting linear and starshaped polymers were characterized by measurement of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The polymerizations were characterized by (1) rapid initiation, (2) invariance of the number of growing chains corresponding to the amount of initiator, and (3) a dominant role played by ester interchange reactions.