Biodegradable plastics derived from renewable, agricultural resources (e.g., corn and soybeans) have the potential to provide a foundation for sustainable commercial products that alleviate the environmental problems associated with their petroleum-based analogs. Recently, rapid advances have been made in the development of biodegradable polymers. For example, polylactides (PLA) are polyesters with the potential for commercialization in the fiber, film, and packaging industries. Despite its promise, PLA currently only displaces a limited range of petroleum-based plastics. One reason is that commercially available PLA deforms at relatively low temperatures, thus making it unsuitable for applications such as microwave-safe containers. Herein we report the synthesis and polymerization of analogs of D,L-lactide (1-4) prepared from palmitic and stearic acids. These monomers contain long carbon chains, and upon polymerization they are expected to yield comb polymers with different physical properties than PLA.

Synthesis and polymerization of lactone monomers derived from fatty acids

251st National Meeting (2016)

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