Ring opening polymerisation of L-lactide initialed by oxyethyl methacrylate-aluminium trialkoxides Part 2. End groups exchange

The side reactions in the synthesis of oxyethylmethacrylate-functionalised poly(L-lactide) macromonomers using aluminium mono- and trialkoxides carryi ng this functionality have been studied. In addition to the expected change s in the final molecular weight for this kind of polymerisations, changes i n the structure of the chain end-groups have been identified by spectroscop ic techniques. Radical polymerisation of the functionalised macromonomers h as also been detected, especially when dealing with low molecular weight pr epolymers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.