In this study, novel biodegradable polymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of L‐lactide on chitin in an N,N‐dimethyl acetamide (DMAc)/lithium chloride (LiCl) solvent system, and chitin was used as macroinitiator to afford new materials. Lithium chloride (LiCl) was used as catalyst. The synthesized copolymers [chitin‐graft‐poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA)] were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm the newly formed ester bond. From the FTIR spectra, the peak intensity of ester bond in the chitin‐graft‐PLLA copolymers increased in comparison to that of L‐lactide monomer. Therefore, it was confirmed that PLLA was successfully grafted on to chitin. Also, cross polarization–magic angle spinning (CP‐MAS), ¹³C solid state NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize novel chitin‐graft‐PLLA copolymers.

© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry