Ring-opening polymerization of 6-hydroxynon-8-enoic acid lactone: Novel biodegradable copolymers containing allyl pendent groups

This article reports the synthesis and copolymerization of 6-hydroxynon-8-e noic acid lactone. The ring-opening polymerization of this lactone-type mon omer bearing a pendant allyl group led to new homopolymers and random copol ymers with epsilon-caprolactone and L,L-lactide. The copolymerizations were carried out at 110 degrees C with Sn(Oct)(2) as a catalyst. The introducti on of unsaturations into the aliphatic polyester permitted us to carry out different chemical transformations on this family of polymers. For example, this article reports the bromination, epoxidation, and hydrosylilation of the allyl group in the new polyester copolymers. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons , Inc.