New degradable polyesters from deoxycholic acid and oligo(ethylene glycol)s

Abstract A new class of polyesters was prepared by polycondensation of a bile acid, deoxycholic acid, and an oligo(ethylene glycol) ( OEG ) with molar mass ranging from 100 to 1500. The chemical structure and composition of the polyesters were confirmed by 1 H‐NMR , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and HPLC analysis. Polyester molar masses measured by gel permeation chromatography were between 5000 and 20 000. Thermal stability and glass transition temperature decreased with increasing length of OEG . Hydrolytic degradation was also enhanced by the presence of longer chain OEG . Polyesters obtained from OEG with molar mass ≥ 1000 were water soluble, semicrystalline and thermosensitive. As a function of the OEG length used for their preparation, the new polyesters can be useful for biomedical or industrial applications. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry