Synthesis of poly(ester‐anhydride)s based on poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) prepolymer

The objective of this study was to prepare high molecular weight poly(ester‐anhydride)s by melt polycondensation. The polymerization procedure consisted of the preparation of carboxylic acid terminated poly(?‐caprolactone) prepolymers that were melt polymerized to poly(?‐caprolactone)s containing anhydride functions along the polymer backbone. Poly(?‐caprolactone) prepolymers were prepared using either 1,4‐butanediol or 4‐(hydroxymethyl)benzoic acid as initiators, yielding hydroxyl‐terminated intermediates that were then converted to carboxylic acid‐terminated prepolymers by reaction with succinic anhydride. Prepolymers were then allowed to react with an excess of acetic anhydride, followed by subsequent polycondensation to resulting high molecular weight poly(ester‐anhydride)s. Upon coupling of prepolymers, size exclusion chromatography analyses showed an increase from 3600 to 70,000 g/mol in number‐average molecular weight (M_n) for the 1,4‐butanediol initiated polymer, and an increase from 7200 to 68,000 g/mol for the 4‐(hydroxymethyl)benzoic acid‐initiated polymer. 4‐Hydroxybenzoic acid and adipic acid were also used as initiators in the preparation of poly(?‐caprolactone) prepolymers. However, with these initiators, the results were not satisfactory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 176–185, 2001