Control of Molecular Weight for Auto-Catalyzed Poly(ortho ester) Obtained by Polycondensation Reaction

Polycondensation of auto-catalyzed poly(ortho ester)s (POE x LA y ) containing lactic acid units in the polymer backbone is described. The use of n-decanol during the polymerization as a chain stopper allows good control of polymer molecular weight. POE 70 LA 30 based on 3,9-diet-hylidene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (DETOSU), 1,10-decanediol-lactate and 1,10-decanediol and synthesized by using 5, 10 and 15 mol % of n-decanol were characterized by 13 C NMR, 1 H NMR and FT-IR. The thermal and viscoelastic properties of such polymers as well as their molecular weight distribution are also reported.