Glycine/Glycolic acid based copolymers

Glycine/glycolic acid based biodegradable copolymers have been prepared by ring-opening homopolymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione, and ring-opening copolymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione and glycolide. The homopolymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione was carried out in the melt at 200°C for 3 min using stannous octoate as an initiator, and continued at lower reaction temperatures (100-160°C) for 2-48 h. The highest yields (60%) and intrinsic viscosities ([] = 0.50 dL/g; DMSO, 25°C) were obtained after 3 min reaction at 200°C and 17 h at 130°C using a molar ratio of monomer and initiator of 1000. The polymer prepared by homopolymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione was composed of alternating glycine and glycolic acid residues, and had a glass transition temperature of 67°C and a melting temperature of 199°C. Random copolymers of glycine and glycolic acid were synthesized by copolymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione and glycolide in the melt at 200°C, followed by 17 h reaction at 130°C using stannous octoate as an initiator. The morphology of the copolymers varied from semi-crystalline to amorphous, depending on the mole fraction of glycolic acid residues incorporated.