Synthesis of Atactic and Isotactic Poly(1,2-glycerol carbonate)s: Degradable Polymers for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

The synthesis and characterization of atactic and isotactic linear poly(benzyl 1,2-glycerol carbonate)s are reported. The poly(benzyl 1,2-glycerol carbonate)s were obtained via the ring-opening copolymerization of rac-/(R)-benzyl glycidyl ether with CO2 using SalcyCo(III)X complexes with high carbonate linkage selectivity and polymer/cyclic carbonate selectivity (>99%). Deprotection of the resultant polymers afforded poly(1,2-glycerol carbonate)s with a functionalizable pendant primary hydroxyl group. Poly(1,2-glycerol carbonate) showed a remarkable increase in degradation rate compared to poly(1,3-glycerol carbonate) with a t1/2 ≈ 2-3 days. These polymers fulfill an unmet need for a readily degradable biocompatible polycarbonate.