Poly(L-lactide) macrodiols (HOPLLAOH): Influence of linear alkyl diols as initiators: Synthesis and characterization

Abstract

ABSTRACTA series of α,ω-hydroxy telechelic poly(L-lactide)s (HOPLLAOHs) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide (L-LA) using tin octoate [Sn(Oct)2] as catalyst and a family of linear alkyl diols as initiators [HO–[CH2]m–OH, where m = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12]. A systematic analysis of these HOPLLAOHs species in terms of their thermal properties was realized by DSC. In this sense, the linear alkyl group had an important influence on the glass transition temperature (Tg); a relatively high content of alkyl group on the HOPLLAOH increased the flexibility of the polyester, evidenced by a value of Tg inversely proportional to the weight percent of the alkyl group. Besides, the alkyl groups had an effect on the crystallization temperature (Tc), melting temperature (Tm), and crystallinity (xi). Additionally, HOPLLAOHs were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, MALDI-TOF, and GPC.