Functional and degradable copolyesters by ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and anhydrides

•A mixture of two epoxides is copolymerized with each of four structurally diverse cyclic anhydrides.•The organocatalytic, chemoselective strategy affords functional and fully alternating copolyesters.•The anhydride structure dictates the macromolecular and thermal properties of the polymers.•Copolyesters degrade in both abiotic and enzymatic hydrolytic conditions.