Stable, hydroxyl functional polycarbonates with glycerol side chains synthesized from CO(2) and isopropylidene(glyceryl glycidyl ether).

A series of functional polycarbonates, poly((isopropylidene glyceryl glycidyl ether)-co-(glycidyl methyl ether) carbonate) (P((IGG-co-GME) C)) random copolymers with different fractions of 1,2-isopropylidene glyceryl glycidyl ether (IGG) units, is synthesized. After acidic hydrolysis of the acetal protecting groups, a new type of functional polycarbonate prepared directly from CO(2) and glycerol is obtained, namely poly((glyceryl glycerol)-co-(glycidyl methyl ether) carbonate) (P((GG-co-GME) C)). All hydroxyl functional samples exhibit monomodal molecular weight distributions with PDIs between 2.5 and 3.3 and M(n) between 12 000 and 25 000 g mol(-1) . Thermal properties reflect the amorphous structure of the polymers. The materials are stable in bulk and solution.