DL-Lactide is used to produce 2-hydroxy-propionic acid 1-(1-phenyl-ethoxycarbonyl)-ethyl ester. It acts as an important raw material and an intermediate used in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyes. It is involved in enzymatic alcoholysis to produce both alkyl (R)-lactates and alkyl (S,S)-lactyllactates.
DL-Lactide 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.
