Macromolecular engineering of aliphatic polylactones, polylactides, and polyanhydrides

Polymers and copolymers of ε-caprolactone (ε-Cl), lactides (LA), glycolides and aliphatic polyanhydrides all have potential uses in the area of medicine because of their biocompatibility and biodegrability. Polycondensation is the traditional method of synthesis of polyesters and polyanhydrides, but it has all the drawbacks of a step-growth polymerization. These can however be overcome by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-CL, LA, glycolide and alicyclic anhydrides. If the polyaddition is living, it may provide molecular weight control, narrow MWD. If initiation is fast enough and control of the molecular architecture. This paper reports on the recent progress made in the control of 'living' ring-opening polymerization of ε-CL, LA and adipic anhydride (AA), using aluminum alkoxides as initiators.