[en] Synthesis of an asymmetric tadpole-shaped aliphatic copolyester consisting of a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) ring and two poly(L-lactide) tails was reported for the first time. First, a high molecular weight cyclic PCL macroinitiator (Mn = 31,000) was prepared by intramolecular photocross-linking of "living" chains. Polymerization of L-lactide was resumed by the tin dialkoxide containing macrocycles, thus making the targeted tadpole-shaped copolyester available. A preliminary investigation of the crystallization of these copolyesters was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy.
Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Politique Scientifique Fédérale (Belgique) = Belgian Federal Science Policy ; Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (Communauté française de Belgique) - F.R.S.-FNRS