Polymerisation of Lactones

This is a review of investigations on the polymerisation of lactones. The author briefly touches on the history of the subject, the advantage of the synthesis of polyesters by the method of polymerisation over polycondensation, and the essential nomenclature of lactones. The polymerisation of β-, γ-, and δ-lactones, both unsubstituted and with various substituents, in the presence of anionic and cationic catalysts, and also under the action of ionising radiation, is considered in detail. Conditions and possible schemes of mechanism for the polymerisation of these lactones, and also the effect of substituents on the course of the process, are given. Examples of the copolymerisation of this class of compounds with either vinyl or cyclic monomers are considered separately. The available published data on the physicochemical properties of polyesters synthesised from lactones and their applications as fibre- or film-forming polymers is presented. Bibliography of 80 references.