As fossil fuel sources diminish, it becomes more pertinent to seek out renewable and sustainable methodologies in both industrial and research environments – particularly in high-demand fields such as biomaterials. Combining green epoxide - CO<sub>2</sub> coupling reactions with highly efficient techniques such as thiol-ene click reactions, it is feasible that biodegradable and functional materials can be made through green chemistry methods. Propylene oxide, allyl glycidyl ether, and carbon dioxide were polymerized and then cross-linked to various densities using thiol-ene chemistry. Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy confirmed the cross-linkage of polymers. Further, this research sought to functionalize the remaining olefin groups by thiol-ene reactions with various thiols in order to provide functional pendant groups for multiple potential uses. Due to unforeseen technical issues, the success of functionalization remains undetermined; therefore, further tests on this step must be conducted. If successful, this route may become a potential green method for films that could be used as biomaterials for drug delivery systems by attachment of biologically active molecules to functional pendant groups.

Cross-linking and surface functionalization of polycarbonate films using thiol-ene click chemistry

249th National Meeting (2015)

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