Poly(ε-caprolactone)-based organogels and hydrogels with poly(ethylene glycol) cross-linkings

The reaction of triphosgene with poly(ethylene glycol) yielded poly(ethylene glycol) dichloroformate. This difunctional cross-linker was allowed to react with poly-(epsilon-caprolactone) bearing carbanionic sites obtained by activation with lithium diisopropylamide. The reaction resulted in the cross-linking of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) chains by poly(ethylene glycol) segments, giving copolymer networks that gel in both organic and aqueous media.