Abstract
This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of a new class of biodegradable copolymers based on carbohydrates. A new oligomer was synthesized by the polycondensation of 1-benzyl-5,6-(bis(maleyloxy))-2,3-isopropylidene-D-mannofuranose with propane-1,3-diol in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid and then it was copolymerized with 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The mannose based oligomer was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and HPLC-MS, and the copolymers were analyzed using FTIR and thermogravimetry. Keywords: D-mannose, glycopolymers, maleic anhydride