Due to rising prices, the production of materials from renewable resources is becoming increasingly important. A specific class of natural polymers that we are attracted to is that of which is derived from cyclic monoterpenes. They are expected to display desirable thermal properties, as well as reliable mechanical properties, due to the presence of the cyclohexane ring that is part of the polymer backbone. Despite the use of terpenes in some commercial products, many of the materials obtained from the cationic polymerization of the monomers are not well defined. This often leads to poor mechanical properties. However, recent light has shown on living carbocationic polymerization. This process of polymerization has made the production of materials with higher molecular weights and lower/narrower polydispersities possible. Once living polymerization conditions have been achieved for a variety of terpene monomers and promising homopolymers identified, block copolymers will be synthesized for thermoplastic elastomer applications. The ultimate goal of the research described herein is to produce polymers from �-pinene (acquired from pine sap) in conjunction with methyl stearate and trityltetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate to yield optimal thermal and mechanical characteristics.

Cationic polymerization of �-pinene with [[Ph3C][B(C?6?F?5)?4?]] and methyl stearate

246th National Meeting (2013)

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