Lactide
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Through Stereoisomerism, Polymerization and Catalysis
Stereoisomers
The dilactide derived from lactic acid can exist in three different stereoisomeric forms. This complexity arises because lactic acid is chiral. These enantiomers do not racemize readily.
All three stereoisomers undergo epimerisation in the presence of organic and inorganic bases in solution.
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Polymerization
Lactide can be polymerized to polylactic acid (polylactide). Depending on the catalyst, syndiotactic or a heterotactic polymers can result. The resulting materials, polylactic acid, have many attractive properties.