Novel hydroxyl containing polyesters and polycarbonates by copolymerization of the glycidyl ethers of protected alditols and carbon dioxide

Novel functional biodegradable polyesters and polycarbonates have been prepared by copolymerization of either succinic anhydride or carbon dioxide with the glycidyl ethers of protected alditols, such as glycidylisopropylideneglycerol and glycidyldiisopropylidenepentitols, and their mixtures with propylene oxide in the presence of organo-metal catalysts. Highly hydrophilic polyesters have also been prepared by copolymerization of succinic anhydride with N-glycidylpyrrolidone. Polyesters and polycarbonates of protected alditols thus obtained have been transformed into the corresponding polyhydroxylated polymers by selective removal of side-chain isopropylidene protecting groups. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the polymeric products can be tuned by changing the nature of the glycidyl ether, by varying the glycidyl ether/propylene oxide molar ratio in the feed mixture and by controlling the extent of isopropylidene groups' removal.