HYDROLYTIC DEGRADATION OF POLY(ESTER AMIDES) DERIVED FROM CARBOHYDRATES

This paper describes the hydrolytic degradation of three stereoregular poly(ester amides) which were obtained by polycondensation reaction o f l-5-O-[(pentachlorophenoxy)succinyl]-L-arabinitol, l-5-O-[(pentachlo rophenoxy)glutaryl]-L-arabinitol, and ethyl-5-O-[(pentachlorophenoxy)s uccinyl]-D-xylitol hydrochlorides. The degradation study was carried o ut at 37 degrees C in bidistilled water and/or in buffered salt soluti on at pH 7.4, and was monitored by mass loss, GPC, SEM, and FAB-MS, IR , and NMR spectroscopies. The hydrolytic degradation of these poly(est er amides) occurs by hydrolysis of the ester linkages and is character ized by rapid rates of hydrolysis. The differences in degradation rate s are ascribed to differences in crystallinity and hydrophilicity of t he polymers. Our results show that the poly(ester amides) derived from succinic anhydride degrade to a final monomeric product in which a su ccinimide ring has been formed.