Current research is strongly focused on the synthesis of polymers that are sustainable and degradable, with the objective of replacing fossil fuel based commodity plastics. In this line of thinking, polyacetals represent an attractive alternative since they are inspired by nature, as cellulose and other natural macromolecules possess this kind of functional group. By including polyacetals in polymer backbones, they can be potentially water degradable.Dialdehyde monomers were constructed by linking two molecules of an aromatic hydroxyaldehyde derived from lignin with two methylene spacers, having an ether linkage between the two aromatic groups. The dialdehydes were then polymerized with suitable tetraols in solution.The polymers have a high level of rigidity in the backbones given by the presence of the aromatic rings, added to the new rings that the acetal formation generates (figure 1). By testing different combinations of the monomers, a range of thermal properties was obtained making these polymers comparable to the current commercially available plastics such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate.

Sustainable polyacetals and polyspiroacetals derived from lignin

247th National Meeting (2014)

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