Reaction of Bacterial Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate with Thionyl Chloride in the Presence of Zinc Chloride, and the Preparation of Chlorine-Containing Oligomers

The degradation patterns of bacterial poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) in chloroform solution under the action thionyl chloride presence zinc were studied. When 2.5.mol and 100 mmol introduced into 25 PHB, a decrease molecular weight polymer was observed. During reaction, relatively rapid noted first hour experiment; thus, values weight-average decreased from 840 kDa to 483, 167, 58.6, 16.7 after 1, 5, 24, 96 h experiment, respectively. polydispersity also gradually 2.69 at beginning 1.92 end experiment. Oligomers PHB containing 3-chlorobutyric acid 3-hydroxybutyryl residues O C ends chain, respectively, obtained. results confirm ability interact with aliphatic esters compounds, demonstrate possibility using this reaction produce oligomeric derivatives polyesters bearing chloralkyl functional groups.