Synthesis of poly( l -lactide) and gradient copolymers from a l -lactide/trimethylene carbonate eutectic melt

A 50 : 50 wt% mixture of L-lactide and trimethylene carbonate yields a eutectic at 21.3 °C. This mixture was exploited to prepare poly(L-lactide) homopolymers at r.t. without addition of extra solvent. The intrinsic kinetic behavior of the DBU organocatalyst also allowed for the sequential polymerization of both comonomers, leading to well defined gradient copolymers.