Degradable Polyesters based on Oxygenated Fatty Acid Monomer

A series of degradable polyesters was synthesized via melt polymerization of 3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-dioic acid and five different diols, catalyzed by antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ). The polymers were characterized by FT-IR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The polydispersity index (PDI = M w / M n ) of the polyesters ranged from 1.55 to 1.99, the weight-average molecular weight ( M w ) from 1.8 × 10 4 to 3.2 × 10 4 Da, the melting point from 63 to 123 °C, and the highest decomposition temperature observed was 363 °C. The influence of the structure of the polymer chain on hydrolytic degradability was investigated with tests performed at three different values of pH. The findings obtained provide useful insight for the molecular design and the synthesis of degradable polyesters.