EP1158014A1 — Process for producing polymer

USPTO Abstract

A process for producing a biodegradable polymer having free carboxyl at the ω-end charcterized by polymerizing a cyclic ester compound in the presence of a hydroxymonocarboxylic acid derivative having protected carboxyl or a hydroxydicarboxylic acid derivative having protected carboxyl, and then deprotecting the thus obtained polymer having protected carboxyl at the ω-end. Use of the above process makes it easy to control the molecular weight of the target biodegradable polymer and the content of free carboxyl therein, thereby enabling the efficient production of a polymer having a high purity and being contaminated with littel catalyst remaining therein.