Thomas M. McGuire, Masato Miyajima, Mineto Uchiyama, Antoine Buchard and Masami Kamigaito
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 5844-5850
DOI:
10.1039/D0PY00878H,
Paper
An epoxy derivative of a naturally occuring vinylphenolic compound, 4-vinylguaiacol (4VGEP), was used for the synthesis of a well-defined (Mw/Mn = 1.08–1.14), bio-based styrene-type polymer. Block copolymers of 4VGEP with styrene and diethylacrylamide were also prepared and used as macro-monomers in metal, and metal-free, ring-opening copolymerisation (ROCOP) with cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride to form ester cross-linked star polymers in high yields (82–90%), with narrow dispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.27–1.40). Finally, the selective degradation of the ester core of the styrene-based star was achieved under acidic conditions.