Oxidation of Monoterpenes to Form Diols and Triols: A Versatile Toolbox for Polymer Synthesis

Polyols and polyacrylates have a wide range of applications in polymer synthesis as monomers, initiators, or building blocks variety polymerization reaction types. With an ever-growing need to reduce the global dependency on fossil fuels, finding bio-based/renewable sources for these compounds is now critical. Herein, alkene moieties common, abundant terpenes are functionalized via oxidation expand “toolbox” bio-based diols triols. These polyol readily converted into corresponding terpene-derived diacrylates using mild conditions. As proof concept, it demonstrated that monomers can be used aza-Michael polymerizations, forming new (bio)degradable poly-β-amino esters.