Synthesis of Biodegradable Hydrogel by Radical Ring‐Opening Polymerization of 2‐Methylene‐1,3,6‐Trioxocane

2‐Methylene‐1,3,6‐trioxocane (MTC), maleic anhydride (MA), and poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) 400 (PEGD) or divinyl adipate (DVA) were terpolymerized in the presence of a radical initiator. Though the obtained gels did not absorb deionized water, the gels could absorb deionized water and saline after hydrolyzing the MA carboxylate anhydride functionality. The absorbing ratios of deionized water and saline were high. The biodegradability of the hydrogels after hydrolysis was found to be good by a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)‐tester using soil.

Keywords:

• radical ring‐opening polymerization
• cyclic ketene acetal
• biodegradation
• hydrogel