Controlled ring-opening polymerization of lactide and glycolide

To date, enormous progress has been made in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide and glycolide. This review focuses on the different approaches reported in the literature for the controlled ring-opening polymerization of lactide and glycolide until 2003. The catalytic systems for coordination polymerization are presented first, following the nature of their ancillary ligands. Following this, the anionic, nucleophilic and cationic strategies are discussed successively. Focus is on the mechanistic and stereochemical aspects of the various processes, and whenever possible comparisons between the different systems are attempted.