Novel feasibility of fuctionalized poly(3-hydroxybutanoic acid), PHB, and i
ts copolymers synthesis via ring-opening of beta-butyrolactone (ROP) mediat
ed by activated anionic initiators or enzymes in vitro is presented. Using
these new synthetic approaches. PHB with defined chemical structure of the
end groups as well as block, graft and random copolymers have been obtained
and characterized by IR, NMR, EST-MS and GPC techniques. The relationship
between the structure and properties of the novel polymeric materials prepa
red is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.