The invention provides compounds and monomers having a carbonate linkage. The monomers can be used to form homopolymers or can be coupled with other monomers to provide a wide variety of non-homopolymers. The invention further provides a wide variety of compositions comprising the compounds, monomers, and polymers. In the exemplary structures below, Q, A, R, and n are as described herein.

##STR00001##

The invention provides compounds and monomers having a carbonate linkage. The monomers can be used to form homopolymers or can be coupled with other monomers to provide a wide variety of non-homopolymers. The invention further provides a wide variety of compositions comprising the compounds, monomers, and polymers. In the exemplary structures below, Q, A, R, and n are as described herein. ##STR00001##