Poly(ε-caprolactone) functionalized with pendant benzyloxycarbonylmethyl group (PCL-co- PBCL) was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and 6-(benzyloxycarbonyl- methyl)-ε-caprolactone (BCL) with Sn(Oct)2 as catalyst. Its benzyl protecting groups were effectively removed by H2 using Pd/C as catalyst to obtain poly(ε-caprolactone) bearing pendant carboxyl groups (PCL-co-PCCL). We studied the mechanical properties and surface hydrophilicity of PCL-co-PBCL and PCL-co-PCCL, and the degradation behavior in vitro of them was also evaluated in different pH value phosphate buffer solutions. The results showed that the degradability of functionalized PCL was greatly improved by the pendant functional groups and the degradation rates could be controlled by adjusting the content of the functional groups.

Key words: 6-(benzyloxycarbonylmethyl)-ε-caprolactone, functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone), pendant functional group, biodegradability, hydrophilicity