Dicarboxylic acids derived from plant oils are attractive intermediates for the synthesis of polymer materials. Similar to polyethylene, the incorporation of long methylene sequences enables polymer crystallization and renders polyesters hydrophobic. Long-chain aliphatic polyesters that incorporate the full length of the plant oil methylene sequences possess high melting points (Tm > 100 °C) an...

Polyesters are important materials with a wide range of applications, but there has been increasing concern over their sustainability. One example is the need for safer, bio-derived solvents to replace those currently in use polymer’s synthesis and processing. In this work, several variants bio-based cellulose/levoglucosenone derived solvent Cyrene, namely ketal derivatives dioxolane Cygnet, di...

A d-xylose 3,5-anhydrosugar derivative has been used as an oxetane co-monomer in the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) with cyclic anhydrides, to form a family of seven novel sugar-derived polyesters, up 100% renewable content. ROCOP proceeds high alternating selectivity AB-type copolymers that are thermally robust (Td,onset > 212 °C) and exhibit broad range glass-transition temperatures (T...