Noncatalytic Polycondensation of L-Lactic Acid under Microwave Irradiation

Noncatalytic polycondensation of L-lactic acid under microwave irradiation is compared with that under conventional heating. Under microwave irradiation, higher molecular weights of poly(L-lactic acid) can be obtained comparing with under conventional heating. Though the racemization of L-lactate was induced, it can be lowered at higher vacuum. As a result, higher molecular weight poly(L-lactic acid), comparing with conventional heating without increasing racemization, was synthesized with microwave irradiation.