Communication: Functional aliphatic polycarbonate was synthesized by copolymerization of carbon dioxide and allyl glycidyl ether in the presence of a catalyst system based on ZnEt2 and pyrogallol at a molar ration of 2:1. The polycarbonate obtained was oxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to give poly(epoxycarbonate). These polymers were degraded in an aqueous buffer of pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C. Hydrolytic degradation was monitored by determination of the weight loss.