Themed collection Sustainable Polymers

Antoine Buchard and Tanja Junkers introduce the Polymer Chemistry themed collection on Sustainable Polymers.

Chemical modification of cellulose in "green" solvents.

Protecting-group-free synthesis of thiol-functionalized degradable polyesters has been developed by using chemoselective catalysis and microflow technology.

Putting the pieces together: a guide for rational molecular design of safe, functional and renewable BPA alternatives.

This review examines recent strategies, challenges, and future opportunities in preparing high-performance polymeric materials from lignin and its derivable compounds.

Acrylates and polyacrylates have been produced massively due to their interesting applications like Plexiglas.

We summarise the most recent advances in the synthesis and characterisation of degradable thermosetting polyester and polycarbonates, including partially degradable systems derived from itaconic acid and isosorbide.

Synthetic transformation of D-xylose into a four-membered cyclic ether allows for reactions with CO₂ leading to linear polycarbonates by either ring-opening copolymerisation directly or by isolation of a six-membered cyclic carbonate followed by ring-opening polymerisation.

The acyclic monoterpene β-myrcene is polymerized by living anionic polymerization at room temperature using the cyclic monoterpene limonene as an unsaturated hydrocarbon solvent.

The levoglucosenone-based norbornenes family was extended to include a new bi-functional methacrylate monomer that, upon ROMP in Cyrene™, leads to polymers with pendent methacrylate moieties which can be modified by post-polymerization reactions.

The simple commercial organomagnesium catalysts were utilized for efficient access to high-molecular-weight poly(γ-butyrolactone) and facile manipulation of the reaction conditions enabled the polymer topology controlled.

We report here the synthesis and polymerization of a novel disubstituted valerolactone, β-acetoxy-δ-methylvalerolactone, derived from the renewable feedstock triacetic acid lactone (TAL).

Photoinduced organocatalyzed atom-transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is a controlled radical polymerization technique that can be driven using low-energy, visible light and makes use of organic photocatalysts.

Spiro polycycloacetals were synthesized from vanillin and syringaldehyde, along with high-performance co-monomers, exhibiting high glass transition temperatures and thermal stabilities, and rapid rates of hydrolysis in acidic solutions.

Lipoic acid provides a modular and bio-sourced platform from which the create covalent adaptable network materials.

Long-chain polyamide covalent adaptable networks with high strength and short relaxation times were prepared based on a renewable ethylene brassylate and disulfide exchange.

A bio-based ferulic acid monomer is inserted in random terpolyesters with high molar mass and offers the possibility of crosslinking after processing. Both ferulate monomer and solvent-free polycondensation make the new materials more sustainable.

Ring opening metathesis polymerization of δ-pinene with varying amounts of α-pinene is explored.

Water-degradable polyvinyl ketals with high glass transition temperatures (78–127 °C) were made via ketalization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with sustainable ketones.

Bio-based lignin-like building blocks were synthesized and transformed into polyurethane nanocarriers by interfacial polymerization in a miniemulsion. The nanocarriers were degradable by fungal enzymes and might be used for agrochemical delivery.

An oxetane derived from D-xylose has been copolymerised with CS₂ into sulfur-containing polymers which are chemically recyclable and degradable under UV light.

The use of photoacid generators for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters is investigated.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of polyesters especially due to their chemical diversity imparted by their side-chain substituent that provides a handle to tune their properties, such as their thermal, mechanical and (bio)degradability signature.

Catalytic polymerization in compartmentalized aqueous or non-aqueous media, respectively, with functional-group tolerant Ni(II) catalysts yields low-entangled UHMWPE.

We now report the synthesis of well-defined terpene-based polymers and precise di- and multiblock copolymer architectures by use of RAFT, wide range of T_g and promising adhesive properties are observed.

Synthesis and characterisation of novel linear surface-active polymers from temperature sensitive renewable building blocks using an inexpensive catalyst and clean scCO2 as reaction medium.

A new biobased alternative for terephthalic acid (TPA) in (semi-)aromatic polyamides is proposed, namely 4-carboxybenzene propionic acid (4CBPA).

An internal crosslinked waterborne cationic polyurethane from CO₂-polyol featuring neutral characterization was designed and prepared for the development of a sustainable polyaniline-based metal anti-corrosion material.

Biobased exo-methylene-conjugated dienes underwent regioselective living cationic polymerization to result in well-defined homo- and copolymers with good thermal properties.

Cationic polymerization enables production of sustainable thermoplastic elastomers constructed from renewable vinyl ethers and -p-methoxystyrene with properties consistent with their petroleum-derived counterparts.

A series of Mg(II) and Zn(II) catalen complexes have been prepared for PLA formation and recycling.