Stimuli-responsive materials with degradation capabilities have become a prominent subfield of polymer chemistry over the past few decades. More specifically, photo-degradable materials have garnered increased attention due to their applications to lithography, biotechnology, controlled release systems, and environmentally degradable capabilities. However, as with many plastics, a need exists to minimize the use of non-renewable raw materials derived from petroleum and replace them with sustainable materials from biomass. Hydroxycinnamic acids provide an exciting avenue for developing such materials due to their natural abundance in the environment and inherent photo-responsive capabilities. Here in, we present the development of a photodegradable polymer resulting from the polymerization of o-hydroxycinnamic acid, an underexplored derivative within this class. Upon exposure to UV light, the polymer chain-end undergoes an E to Z isomerization leading to an intramolecular cyclization reaction resulting in backbone cleavage. Ultimately, the degradation process produces coumarin, another naturally occurring small molecule, further supporting the environmentally-friendly attributes of this system.

Development and analysis of poly(o-hydroxycinnamic acid): A photodegradable material with sustainable attributes

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