DL-Lactide

DL-Lactide or 3,6-Dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione (FR-1268) is the optically inactive internal diester of DL-lactic acid. The same comments apply here as for the L-form. Unlike the parent acid, DL-lactide is an odorless solid.

Frinton Laboratories, Inc. offers this in small to medium quantities, as a free-flowing crystalline powder, melting at about 125°C and with purity higher than 99%. This as well as the optically active L-lactide are used in medical practice, after polymerization to polylactide, a biodegradable and bioactive thermoplastic aliphatic polyester, one of the largest consumed bioplastics in the world.  It is often used as a protective layer in wound coatings, or as anchors, screws or mesh in surgery, since it degrades in about six months to the innocuous lactic acid.