title: Diglycerol-based polyesters: melt polymerization with hydrophobic anhydrides.
abstract: The melt polymerization of diglycerol with bicyclic anhydride monomers derived from a naturally occurring monoterpene provides an avenue for polyesters with a high degree of sustainability. The hydrophobic anhydrides are synthesized at ambient temperature via a solvent-free Diels-Alder reaction of α-phellandrene with maleic anhydride. Subsequent melt polymerizations with tetra-functional diglycerol are effective under a range of [diglycerol]/[anhydride] ratios. The hydrophobicity of α-phellandrene directly impacts the swelling behavior of the resulting polyesters. The low E factors (<2), large amount of bio-based content (>75%), ambient temperature monomer synthesis, and polymer degradability represent key factors in the design of these sustainable polyesters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania 15068 (USA).
authors.forename: Deivasagayam
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dakshinamoorthy
authors.forename: Allison K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Weinstock
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Damodaran
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Iwig
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mathers
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D039821:Monoterpenes; D011091:Polyesters
keywords: anhydrides; biomass; green chemistry; polymers; sustainable chemistry