Synthesis of poly(D,L-lactide) with controlled molecular weight and type of end-groups

Abstract

The synthesis of poly(D,L-lactide) with a predetermined molecular weight ranging from 5 to 143 kDa was conducted by ringopening polymerization of lactide in the presence of varying concentrations of the 1,12-dodecanediol activator. To synthesize poly(D,L-lactide) with COOH-end groups, polymerization was carried out in the presence of L-lactic acid. The synthesised polymer was found to contain an order of magnitude higher concentration of COOH groups than poly(D,L-lactide) synthesised in the presence of 1,12-dodecanediol.