Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable poly(carbonate‐<i>co</i>‐phosphate)s

Abstract

Abstract A series of aliphatic poly(carbonate‐ co ‐phosphate)s was synthesized in bulk using aluminium isopropoxide as initiator by ring‐opening polymerization with various cyclic carbonates (trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and 5,5‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC)) and cyclic phosphates (ethylene ethyl phosphate (EEP), ethylene isobutyl phosphate (EIBP), ethylene lauryl phosphate (ELP) and ethylene stearyl phosphate (ESP)). The influence of reaction conditions such as polymerization time, polymerization temperature and initiator concentration on the yield and molecular weight were investigated. The substituent effect of the cyclic monomers on the polymerization was also studied, and the results indicate that the substituents exert a marked influence on the molecular weight of the copolymers obtained. The comonomer reactivity ratios were determined (TMC 0.88 and EEP 1.17). The copolymers with backbone chains rich in phosphate content exhibit better hydrophilicity than that of TMC homopolymer, and the degradation rate of the copolymers increases with the increase of phosphate content therein. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry