ABSTRACT
Chemically synthesized poly(/3-hydroxybutyrate)s were obtained by ring opening anionic polymerization of /3-butyrolactone. The polymerization of racemic (R ,S) /3-butyrolactone (/3-BL) with potassium terf-butoxide/18-crown-6 complex leads to amorphous polymer. On the other hand, semicrystalline polymer was ob tained via polymerization of racemic /3-BL initiated with potassium m etal/18crown-6 complexes in the presence of ( + ) dimethyl tartarate (DMT). The polymer izations were carried out in THF or in bulk.
