Regioregular Polymers from Biobased (R)-1,3-Butylene Carbonate

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00828
• Publication Date: 2021-06-25T19:54:35Z
• Authors: Christopher A. De...; Anna M. Luke; Kendra Anderson; Theresa M. Reineke; William B. Tolman; Frank S. Bates; Marc A. Hillmyer
• Keywords: Trimethylene carbonate

We present (R)-1,3-butylene carbonate (R-BC) as a biorenewable monomer for the preparation of semicrystalline aliphatic polycarbonates. This conversion is achieved by using enantiomerically pure, biobased (R)-(−)-1,3-butanediol (bio-BG) renewable feedstock. Ring-opening polymerization from select catalysts at low temperatures can yield regioregular poly((R)-1,3-butylene carbonate) (R-PBC) with properties (Xreg = > 0.99; Tm 72 °C). Along R-enantiomeric polymer, alternate stereochemical polymers (using S- and racemic BC) were investigated. Our analysis shows that highest level crystallinity regioregular, R-PBC compared to petrol-based congeners. work potential stereochemically pure bio-BG starting material semicrystalline, carbonates when high regioregularity in polymer microstructure. The synthesis thermal characterization butylene are described detail.