Biodegradable polyesters based on cis-1,4-butenediol

Abstract

Homopolyesters based on cis-1,4-butenediol (cBeD) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (ADAs) were prepared by three different methods. First, cBeD was polycondensed with the dimethyl esters of ADAs in bulk. Regardless of the catalyst, only low-molar-mass polyesters were obtained. Second, polycondensations of cBeD with ADA dichlorides catalyzed by pyridine yielded polyesters with M̄n in the range of 8000-13 500 Da. M̄n around 20 000 Da were achieved when the ADA dichlorides were polycondensed with DSDEN. These ring-opening polycondensations were optimized by a broad variation of the reaction conditions. Under optimized conditions a high molar fraction of cyclic polyesters was formed. All polyesters proved to be crystalline with melting temperatures (Tm in the range of 55-120°C. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.