Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable poly(carbonate-co-phosphate)s

A series of aliphatic poly(carbonate-co-phosphate)s was synthesized in bulk using aluminium isopropoxide as initiator by ring-opening polymerization w ith various cyclic carbonates (trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and 5,5-dimethy ltrimethylene carbonate (DTC)) and cyclic phosphates (ethylene ethyl phosph ate (EEP), ethylene isobutyl phosphate (EIBP), ethylene lauryl phosphate (E LP) and ethylene stearyl phosphate (ESP)). The influence of reaction condit ions such as polymerization time, polymerization temperature and initiator concentration on the yield and molecular weight were investigated. The subs tituent effect of the cyclic monomers on the polymerization was also studie d, and the results indicate that the substituents exert a marked influence on the molecular weight of the copolymers obtained. The comonomer reactivit y ratios were determined (TMC 0.88 and EEP 1.17). The copolymers with backb one chains rich in phosphate content exhibit better hydrophilicity than tha t of TMC homopolymer, and the degradation rate of the copolymers increases with the increase of phosphate content therein. (C) 2001 Society of Chemica l Industry.