Lactide 2211885 215915770 2008-05-30T07:27:49Z Freestyle-69 6502796 Typo [[Image:Lactide.JPG|thumb|right|Chemical structure of lactide.]] '''Lactide''' is the cyclic di-[[ester]] of [[lactic acid]], i.e., 2-hydroxypropionic acid. [[Lactic acid]] can not form a [[lactone]] as other [[hydroxy acids]] do because the hydroxy group is too close to the carboxylic group. Instead, [[lactic acid]] first forms a dimer, which is similar to a 5-hydroxyacid. The dimer contains a hydroxy group at a convenient distance from the carboxylic group for the formation of a lactone. Indeed, the dimer readily forms a six-membered cyclic diester known as '''lactide'''. In general, a '''lactide''' is the cyclic diester, i.e., the '''di'''-[[lactone]] of two molecules of any 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid. It can be [[polymerized]] to [[polylactide]] using suitable catalysts, with either [[syndiotactic]] or a [[heterotactic]] stereocontrol, to give materials with many useful properties. [[Category:Lactones]] {{ester-stub}} [[ja:ラクチド]] [[pl:Laktydy]]