NOVEL HYDROXYL-CONTAINING POLYESTERS AND POLYCARBONATES BY THE COPOLYMERIZATION OF GLYCIDYL ETHERS OF PROTECTED ALDITOLS AND CYCLIC ANHYDRIDES

Novel functional biodegradable polyesters and polycarbonates have been prepared by copolymerization of either succinic anhydride or carbon d ioxide with the glycidyl ethers of protected alditols, such as glycidy lisopropylideneglycerol and glycidyldiisopropylidenepentitols, and the ir mixtures with propylene oxide in the presence of organo-metal catal ysts. Highly hydrophilic polyesters have also been prepared by copolym erization of succinic anhydride with N-glycidylpyrrolidone. Polyesters and polycarbonates of protected alditols thus obtained have been tran sformed into the corresponding polyhydroxylated polymers by selective removal of side-chain isopropylidene protecting groups. The hydrophili c/hydrophobic balance of the polymeric products can be tuned by changi ng the nature of the glycidyl ether, by varying the glycidyl ether/pro pylene oxide molar ratio in the feed mixture and by controlling the ex tent of isopropylidene groups' removal.