Poly(5-hydroxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PHTMC) was synthesized through ring-opening polymerization of 5-benzyloxy trimethylene carbonate followed by debenzylation. The water solubility of the resulting homopolymer was measured as a function of its molecular weight, and its degradation in acidic (pH 2.0), and basic (pH 12.0) solutions of deionized water, as well as in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) assessed. PHTMC exhibited notable hydrophilicity, even at molecular weights as high as 49 kDa. The pendant hydroxyl functional groups also allowed PHTMC to degrade rapidly (<1 h) under basic conditions via an intramolecular cyclization process along the polymer backbone. The ultimate degradation products were the biologically benign glycerol and carbon dioxide.

通过碳酸5-苄氧基三亚甲基酯的开环聚合，然后进行脱苄基反应来合成聚（5-羟基-碳酸三亚甲基酯）（PHTMC）。测量所得均聚物的水溶性，取决于其分子量，在去离子水的酸性（pH 2.0）和碱性（pH 12.0）溶液以及磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS，pH 7.4）中的降解率）评估。PHTMC即使在分子量高达49 kDa时也表现出显着的亲水性。羟基侧基官能团还允许PHTMC在碱性条件下通过沿聚合物主链的分子内环化过程迅速降解（<1小时）。最终的降解产物是生物学上良性的甘油和二氧化碳。