Four synthetic routes to poly(L-lactide) with thiol end groups based on ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LA) catalysed with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)(2)) are reported. The following alcohols were used as co-initiators of polymerization: 2-sulfanylethan-1-ol, 2-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl) sulfanyl] ethan-1-ol, 2-(tritylsulfanyl) ethan-1-ol and allyl alcohol.
End groups introduced into polymers by co-initiators were transformed to thiol groups by a subsequent modification reaction. The efficiencies of the used synthetic methods were evaluated and discussed.
The best results were obtained with co-initiator2-(tritylsulfanyl) ethan-1-ol.