Levulinic acid has substantial potential as a sustainable, bio-based, chemical precursor for renewable polymers production. It has been identified by the Department of Energy as a top 12 building block chemical from carbohydrates, with known production method through acid-catalyzed dehydration and decomposition of cellulosics and sugars. However, there has been little attention towards the use of levulinic acid to produce monomers for ring opening polymerization strategies where excellent control over molar mass and dispersity are possible. Our recent studies allow the use of levulinic acid as a chemical precursor to two novel isomeric lactones in two steps. ROP of these lactones results in semicrystalline polyesters with high melting temperature. Emphasis will be placed on the effectiveness of the process of polymerization or copolymerization of these monomers and the intrinsic properties of these novel structures. The (attractively rapid) rate and mechanism of hydrolysis of these polyesters will also be discussed.

Novel levulinic acid-derived lactones for ring opening polymerizations

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.