Hydroxy Butyric Acids: Properties and Polymerization

摘要

Hydroxybutyric acids and their lactones are discussed. Their properties,polymerization methods and polymers are reviewed. Special interest is in poly (Beta-hydroxybutyrate), because it is a naturally occuring, optically active, highly crystalline and biodegradable polyester. It can already be produced by fermentation, and synthetic methods to produce it by polymerization are studied extensively at the moment. Poly (Beta-hydroxybutyrate) can be obtained by polymerizing Beta-butyrolactone in the presence of initiators. Stereoselective initiators are especially interesting, because when using them similar to naturally occuring polymer is obtained. Stereoselective initiators are not yet effective enough to produce isotactic and enantiomerically pure polymer in high yields. Research in this area has been extensive during the latest few years and is still going on.