Biodegradable polymers based on renewable resources. II. Synthesis and biodegradability of polyesters containing furan rings

Abstract

A series of polyesters were synthesized by the bulk polycondensations of the respective combinations of two difuranic diesters, i.e., bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)methane (4a) and 1,1-bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)ethane (4b), with two 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydrohexitols [1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D-glucitol (1) and 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol (2)], four aliphatic diols, and three oligo(ethylene glycol)s. The polycondensations were carried out at 220–230°C in the presence of titanium isopropoxide as a catalyst, giving polyesters having number average molecular weight up to 2.4 × 104. These polyesters are soluble in a variety of solvents including chlorinated hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and sulfolane. Soil-burial tests along with enzymatic degradation experiments showed that these polyesters are potentially biodegradable. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2729–2737, 1997