Hydrolysable linkers and cross-linkers for absorbable polymers

A compound of Formula C, XIII, XIV, XV, or XVI:

• wherein:
• R is independently a C1-25 alkylene diradical, wherein from 1-4 of the CH2 groups within the alkyl chain are optionally independently replaced by O or S atoms, such that each of said O or S atoms is attached only to carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, with the proviso that multiple heteroatoms must be separated from each other and from the diradical chain ends by at least one carbon atom;
• each a is independently an integer from 1 to 6;
• alternatively, in formula XIII, XIV, XV, or XVI, each a is independently 0;
• each b is independently an integer from 1 to 6;
• each X is independently:
• —OC(═O)CH2— (inverse glycolic acid moiety),
• —OC(═O)CH(CH3)— (inverse lactic acid moiety),
• —OC(═O)CH2OCH2CH2— (inverse dioxanone acid moiety),
• —OC(═O)CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2— (inverse caprolactone acid moiety),
• —OC(═O)(CH2)y—, or
• —OC(═O)CH2(OCH2CH2)z—;
• each X1 is independently:
• —CH2C(═O)O— (glycolic acid moiety),
• —CH(CH3)C(═O)O— (lactic acid moiety),
• —CH2CH2OCH2C(═O)O— (dioxanone acid moiety),
• —CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2C(═O)O— (caprolactone acid moiety),
• —(CH2)yC(═O)O—, or
• —(CH2CH2O)zCH2C(═O)O—;
• each Y is independently:
• —OCH2C(═O)— (inverse glycolic ester moiety),
• —OCH(CH3)C(═O)— (inverse lactic ester moiety),
• —OCH2CH2OCH2C(═O)— (inverse dioxanone ester moiety),
• —OCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2C(═O)— (inverse caprolactone ester moiety),
• —O(CH2)mC(═O)—, or
• —O(CH2CH2O)nOCH2C(═O)—;
• each Y1 is independently:
• —C(═O)CH2O— (glycolic ester moiety),
• —C(═O)CH(CH3)O— (lactic ester moiety),
• —C(═O)CH2OCH2CH2O— (dioxanone ester moiety),
• —C(═O)CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2O— (caprolactone ester moiety),
• —C(═O)(CH2)mO—, or
• —C(═O)CH2O(CH2CH2O)n—;
• and
• each m and n is independently an integer selected from 2 to 24.