Hemicellulose-rich fractions were recovered and upgraded from forestry biomass and by specially elaborated synthetic pathways converted to hybrid vinyl-glucopolymers, a new family of promising candidates of green and functional materials. An imidazole-assisted activation of the polysaccharide anomeric hydroxyls converts the hemicelluloses into halogenated multi-site macroinitiators capable of efficient initiation of a range of vinyl monomers through a single electron transfer living radical polymerization with a high level of control. This strategy for preparing graft copolymers is feasible for hemicelluloses of varying purities, structure and origin, and efficiently conducted under benign conditions: in air, at room temperature, and in water solution.

Green living radical polymerization from hemicellulose-based macroinitiators

244th National Meeting (2012)

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