Ring-opening copolymerization of racemic beta-butyrolactone with e-caprolactone and delta-valerolactone by distannoxane derivative catalysts: study of the enzymatic degradation in aerobic media of obtained copolymers

• Published in: Polymer international 2002-10, Vol.51 (10), p.859-66.
• Main Authors: Arcana, M, Giani-Beaune, O, Schue, F, Amass, W, Amass, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0959-8103

Predominantly syndiotactic poly([R,S]-beta-hydroxybutyrate) was prepared using different distannoxane catalyst systems (1-hydroxy-3-chlorotetrabutyldistannoxane, 1-ethoxy-3-chlorotetrabutyldistannoxane, 1,3-dichlorotetrabutyldistannoxane, and dibutyltin oxide). Copolymers poly([R,S]-beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-e-caprolactone), P(BL-co-CL), and poly([R,S]-beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-e-valerolactone), P(BL-co-VL), were also synthesized from the ring-opening copolymerization of (R,S)-beta-BL with e-caprolactone (CL) and delta-valerolactone (VL) using hydroxy- and ethoxydistannoxanes catalysts. The enzymatic degradability of these polymers was studied in aerobic medium to determine the influence of the tacticity and crystallinity of the corresponding polymers on their degree of aerobic biodegradation and on their initial degradation rate. It was shown that the degradation rate value measured for bacterial PHB 100% (R) was the highest and the degree of aerobic biodegradation reached around 94% after 36 days. A percentage of final biodegradation of about 35% was obtained for predominantly syndiotactic PHB.