[Chemically controlled depolymerization of beta hydroxybutyric lipids (PHB) in Bacillus megaterium. Isolation and structure of the oligomers of D(-)beta hydroxybutyric acid].

Partial depolymerisation of PHB by chemical means to the appearance of homologous polymers from PHB constituted of short carbon chains and oligomers which represent the first elements of this macromolecule. The chemical structure of these oligomers ranging from dimer to heptamer has been essentially deduced from their mass spectrum and then confirmed by studying their physical, chemical and biological properties.