Synthesis of graft polyesters by ring-opening copolymerization of epoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) with acid anhydrides

The copolymerization of epoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) (CH₃PEG–epoxide) with phthalic anhydride catalyzed by tertiary amines was performed in o-dichlorobenzene at 100°C to prepare the PEG graft polyester. 4-Dimethylaminopyridine was the most favorable catalyst to give the graft polyester with relatively high molecular weight. The acidity of the reaction solution decreased and M _n of the graft polyesters increased with reaction time. The CH₃PEG/phthalic acid ratio of the products was little affected by the kind of solvent and the reaction temperature above 100°C, but M _n increased with lowering the polarity of solvents and with raising the temperature. Other acid anhydrides, including maleic, succinic, tetrahydrophthalic, and pyromellitic anhydride, could be copolymerized with CH₃PEG–epoxide. The number of branched CH₃PEG chains was controlled by the mixing of low molecular weight epoxide such as n-butyl glycidyl ether. CH₃PEG component of the graft copolymers melted and crystallized at lower temperature than the raw CH₃PEG because of the restriction on the trunk polyester chain.