Enzymatically synthesized polyesters with pendent <scp>OH</scp> groups as macroinitiators for the preparation of well‐defined graft copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

A family of polyesters, poly(glycerol adipate) ( PGA ), poly(sorbitol adipate) and PGA ‐ graft ‐poly( ε ‐caprolactone), bearing OH groups on their backbones were synthesized by enzymatic polycondensation. They were successfully converted into macroinitiators for atom transfer radical polymerization ( ATRP ) by esterification with α ‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. As a proof of concept, glycerol monomethacrylate was polymerized by ATRP from a PGA backbone yielding the amphiphilic graft copolymer PGA ‐ graft ‐poly(glycerol monomethacrylate). Its self‐assembly in aqueous solution was studied using dynamic light scattering. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry