New ε-caprolactone diyne monomers aiming for biodegradable polymers

A substitution reaction of cyclohexane-1,4-diol with propargyl bromide gave 4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)cyclohexanol. This compound was oxidized to the corresponding ketone (2-C2H) and then to acetylene γ-substituted ε-caprolactone (3-C2H). The latter compound was chain-extended to two butadiynyl monomers: symmetrical 5,5′-[hexa-2,4-diyne-1,6-diylbis(oxy)]bis(oxepan-2-one) (3-C4-3) and unsymmetrical 5-{[5-(trimethylsilyl)penta-2,4-diyn-1-yl]oxy}oxepan-2-one (3-C4TMS) via Eglinton and Cadiot–Chodkiewicz couplings, respectively. Both compounds were obtained through an alternative Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of immediate ketone precursors 2-C4-2 and 2-C4TMS.