Preparation of Poly (butylene succinate) Containing Monoacylglycerol Unit

Poly (butylene succinate) copolymerized with monoacylglycerol was produced from dimethyl succinate, 1, 4-butanediol and a monoacylglycerol such as monolaurin, monostearin, and monoolein. 1H NMR spectra of copolymers obtained using monolaurin clearly indicated the laurate component to be present in the copolymers. Gelation occurred and the copolymers were insoluble in chloroform when more than 1mol% monolaurin to dimethyl succinate was used for copolymerization owing to transesterification of a portion of the laurate component. For copolymers containing 0.3mol% monostearin or monoolein to dimethyl succinate, break stress of the copolymers was three times that of the PBS homopolymer, though the number average molecular weight and thermal properties of copolymer were the same as those of the homopolymer.