Synthesis and biodegradability evaluation of 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane and styrene copolymers

Biodegradable copolymers of 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (MDO) and styrene (ST) were synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization using di‐t‐butyl peroxide (DTBP) as the initiator. The copolymers containing ester units were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. Their molecular weight and polydispersity index were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). In vitro enzymatic degradation of poly(MDO‐co‐ST) was performed at 37°C in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH = 7.4) in the presence of Pseudomonas lipase or crude enzyme extracted from earthworm. The experiment showed that incorporating ester units into C? C backbone chain of polystyrene would result in a biodegradable copolymer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1146–1151, 2007