FTIR study on the synthesis of poly(propylene fumarate) and its copolymer

Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) is one kind of linear biodegradable polyester and the unsaturated double bonds along its main chain can be crosslinked with other olefinic monomers to form three-dimensional networks, and the networks can support tissues. In the present paper, firstly, the intermediate oligomer-bis(2-hydroxypropyl) fumarate (PFP) was synthesized, and then the unsaturated linear polyester PPF was synthesized with the oligomer PFP through melting condensation process. Additionally, on the base of the process, the oligomer bis(2-hydroxypropyl) sebacate (PSP) was synthesized by similar method and then a kind of new copolymer named poly(propylene fumarate-co-propylene sebacate) [P(PF-co-PS)] that comprised bis(2-hydroxypropyl) sebacate segments was synthesized with PFP and PSP by melting condensation. During the synthesis process, the structures of bis(2-hdroxypropyl) fumarate, bis(2-hydroxypropyl) sebacate, PPF and P(PF-co-PS) were characterized by FTIR. The results shows that with the polymerization going along, oligomer bis(2-hydroxypropyl) fumarate and bis(2-hydroxypropyl) sebacate converted to PPF or P(PF-co-PS) gradually.