Copolymers of lactide and/or glycolide with 1,5-dioxepan-2-one

摘要

Copolymers are prepared from 1,5-dioxepan-2-one and lactide and/or glycolide. The copolymers are useful in surgical applications such as sutures, suture lubricants, and allied surgical products. 1,5-Dioxepan-2-one is produced by a new process comprising first reacting ethylene glycol with an alkyl acrylate to form alkyl 3-(2-hydroxyethoxy)propionate, which is then cyclized by contacting with a trans-esterification catalyst.