A coating from nature

Eco-friendly colorful particle boards based on metal-ligand coordination

Colorful wood boards are widely favored in construction and decoration for their outstanding qualities and visually striking appearance. However, the current coloration process of wood boards often relies on formaldehyde-releasing organic paints, which raise environmental and health concerns. Here, a general metal-ligand coordination approach is presented to fabricate eco-friendly, colorful particle boards without the utilization of traditional harmful paints. Based on the regulation of the metal-ligand coordination process, the resulting particle boards show a range of tunable colors, including pink, yellow-brown, orange, grass green, turquoise, indigo, and violet. These colorful particle boards demonstrate exceptional mechanical performance, with a flexural strength of 55.3 ± 3.1 MPa. Additionally, the through-color of the as-prepared particle boards allows their unprecedented color durability against repeated wear, unlike that of traditional colorful coating techniques. This study offers a promising eco-friendly coloration pathway for functional wood materials, meeting sustainable, esthetic, and health-related demands.

Confinement of Sustainable Carbon Dots Results in Long Afterglow Emitters and Photocatalyst for Radical Photopolymerization

Sustainable carbon dots based on cellulose, particularly carboxymethyl cellulose carbon dots (CMCCDs), were confined in an inorganic network resulting in CMCCDs@SiO2. This resulted in a material exhibiting long afterglow covering a time frame of several seconds also under air. Temperature-dependent emission spectra gave information on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) while photocurrent experiments provided a deeper understanding of charge availability in the dark period, and therefore, its availability on the photocatalyst surface. The photo-ATRP initiator, ethyl α-bromophenylacetate (EBPA), quenched the emission from the millisecond to the nanosecond time frame indicating participation of the triplet state in photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Both free radical and controlled radical polymerization based on photo-ATRP protocol worked successfully. Metal-free photo-ATRP resulted in chain extendable macroinitiators based on a reductive mechanism with either MMA or in combination with styrene. Addition of 9 ppm Cu2+ resulted in Mw/Mn of 1.4 while an increase to 72 ppm improved uniformity of the polymers; that is Mw/Mn=1.03. Complementary experiments with kerria laca carbon dots confined materials, namely KCDs@SiO2, provided similar results. Deposition of Cu2+ (9 ppm) on the photocatalyst surface explains better uniformity of the polymers formed in the ATRP protocol.

Electrosynthesis of dimeric butenolides by C-C-homocoupling in the oxidation of 2,4-diarylfurans under aqueous conditions

Fast and efficient galvanostatic conversion of 2,4-diarylfurans into dimeric furan-2(5H)-ones is now possible in one pot and good yields at room temperature in sustainable aqueous organic solvent. Recent applications of these highly desired structures demand our attention since they are a versatile alternative to acrylates in polymerization to achieve green materials. The reaction mechanism proposal, supported by density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations, involves furanoxy radicals, detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), as the last intermediate before a homocoupling step that affords butenolides. The process can be successfully extended to an array of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on the aromatic ring. The proposed pathways to explain the formation of the products are rationalized and discussed. A concomitant oxidation of water to hydroxyl radicals is not discarded, particularly with electron-withdrawing substituents at the aromatic ring. In addition, the biological activity as biocides of the obtained compounds was tested, and they showed promising activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

PDI-Functionalized Glass Beads: Efficient, Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Suitable for Flow Photochemistry

Perylene diimides (PDI) have an extraordinary ability to activate both energy and electron transfer processes upon light excitation; however, their extremely low solubility has hindered their wide use as photocatalysts. Here, we show that the combination of solid-supported PDIs with continuous flow photochemistry offers a promising strategy for process intensification and a scalable platform for heterogeneous photocatalysis. The photocatalyst immobilized onto glass beads is highly efficient, easy to separate, and extremely reusable, with a broad synthetic application range. Using the photo-oxidation of n-butyl sulfide as a benchmark reaction, we demonstrate that immobilized PDI are highly active, outperforming reported homogeneous photosensitizers, and capable of extensive reuse (turnover number (TON) >57,000 over 2 months). Transferring the process from batch to flow results in a 10-fold reduction in irradiation time and an increase in the space-time yield by a factor of 33 (40 vs 1338 mmol-1 h-1 L-1 batch vs flow). What is more, the same catalyst sample can be used for the preparation of a range of sulfoxides, the aza-Henry reaction between nitromethane and N-Ar tetrahydroisoquinolines, and the photo-oxidation of furfural with high catalytic activity. Overall, our work combines the remarkable photocatalytic properties of PDI with inert, easy-to-handle glass beads, producing hybrid materials that are reusable and can be adapted for performing heterogeneous photocatalysis in a range of scalable photochemical reactors.

Waterborne polymers and coatings from bio-based butenolides

In the quest for sustainable paints and coatings, bio-based resources for the polymeric binder constituents are key. Recently, we introduced poly-butenolides as bio-based acrylate replacement for solventborne and 100% solids (UV-curing) coatings. Here, we report the first step towards aqueous poly-butenolide dispersions, enabling the use of this novel binder technology platform in waterborne coatings.

Integrating Bioinspired Natural Adhesion Mechanisms into Modified Polyacrylate Latex Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

For polyacrylate latex pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), high peel strength is of crucial significance. It is not only a key factor for ensuring the long-lasting and effective adhesive force of polyacrylate latex PSAs but also can significantly expand their application scope in many vital fields, such as packaging, electronics, and medical high-performance composite materials. High peel strength can guarantee that the products maintain stable and reliable adhesive performance under complex and variable environmental conditions. However, at present, the peel strength capacity of polyacrylate latex PSAs is conspicuously insufficient, making it difficult to fully meet the urgent market demand for high peel strength, and severely restricting their application in many cutting-edge fields. Therefore, based on previous experimental studies, and deeply inspired by the adhesion mechanism of natural marine mussels, in this study, a traditional polyacrylate latex PSA was ingeniously graft-modified with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (DHBA) through the method of monomer-starved seeded semi-continuous emulsion polymerization, successfully synthesizing novel high-peel-strength polyacrylate latex pressure-sensitive adhesives (HPSAs) with outstanding strong adhesion properties, and the influence of DHBA content on the properties of the HPSAs was comprehensively studied. The research results indicated that the properties of the modified HPSAs were comprehensively enhanced. Regarding the water resistance of the adhesive film, the minimum water absorption rate was 4.33%. In terms of the heat resistance of the adhesive tape, it could withstand heat at 90 °C for 1 h without leaving residue upon tape peeling. Notably, the adhesive properties were significantly improved, and when the DHBA content reached 4.0%, the loop tack and 180° peel strength of HPSA4 significantly increased to 5.75 N and 825.4 gf/25 mm, respectively, which were 2.5 times and 2 times those of the unmodified PSA, respectively. Such superior adhesive performance of HPSAs, on the one hand, should be attributed to the introduction of the bonding functional monomer DHBA with a rich polyphenol structure; on the other hand, the acetal structure formed by the grafting reaction of DHBA with the PSA effectively enhanced the spatial network and crosslink density of the HPSAs. In summary, in this study, the natural biological adhesion phenomenon was ingeniously utilized to increase the peel strength of pressure-sensitive adhesives, providing a highly forward-looking and feasible direct strategy for the development of environmentally friendly polyacrylate latex pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Process Intensification of the Continuous Synthesis of Bio-Derived Monomers for Sustainable Coatings Using a Taylor Vortex Flow Reactor

We describe the optimization and scale-up of two consecutive reaction steps in the synthesis of bio-derived alkoxybutenolide monomers that have been reported as potential replacements for acrylate-based coatings (Sci. Adv.2020, 6, eabe0026). These monomers are synthesized by (i) oxidation of furfural with photogenerated singlet oxygen followed by (ii) thermal condensation of the desired 5-hydroxyfuranone intermediate product with an alcohol, a step which until now has involved a lengthy batch reaction. The two steps have been successfully telescoped into a single kilogram-scale process without any need to isolate the 5-hydroxyfuranone between the steps. Our process development involved FTIR reaction monitoring, FTIR data analysis via 2D visualization, and two different photoreactors: (i) a semicontinuous photoreactor based on a modified rotary evaporator, where FTIR and 2D correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) revealed the loss of the methyl formate coproduct, and (ii) our fully continuous Taylor Vortex photoreactor, which enhanced the mass transfer and permitted the use of near-stoichiometric equivalents of O2. The use of in-line FTIR monitoring and modeling greatly accelerated process optimization in the Vortex reactor. This led to scale-up of the photo-oxidation in 85% yield with a projected productivity of 1.3 kg day-1 and a space-time yield of 0.06 mol day-1 mL-1. Higher productivities could be achieved while sacrificing yield (e.g., 4 kg day-1 at 40% yield). The use of superheated methanol at 200 °C in a pressurized thermal flow reactor accelerated the second step, the thermal condensation of 5-hydroxyfuranone, from a 20 h batch reflux reaction (0.5 L, 85 g) to a space time of <1 min in a reactor only 3 mL in volume operating with projected productivities of >700 g day-1. Proof of concept for telescoping the two steps was established with an overall two-step yield of 67%, producing a process with a projected productivity of 1.1 kg day-1 for the methoxybutenolide monomer without any purification of the 5-hydroxyfuranone intermediate.

The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices

Scientists are of key importance to the society to advocate awareness of the climate crisis and its underlying scientific evidence and provide solutions for a sustainable future. As much as scientific research has led to great achievements and benefits, traditional laboratory practices come with unintended environmental consequences. Scientists, while providing solutions to climate problems and educating the young innovators of the future, are also part of the problem: excessive energy consumption, (hazardous) waste generation, and resource depletion. Through their own research operations, science, research and laboratories have a significant carbon footprint and contribute to the climate crisis. Climate change requires a rapid response across all sectors of society, modeled by inspiring leaders. A broader scientific community that takes concrete actions would serve as an important step in convincing the general public of similar actions. Over the past years, grassroots movements across the sciences have recognized the overlooked impact of the scientific enterprise, and so-called Green Lab initiatives emerged seeking to address the environmental footprint of research. Driven by the voluntary efforts of researchers and staff, they educate peers, develop sustainability guidelines, write scientific publications and maintain accreditation frameworks. With this perspective we want to advocate for and spark leadership to promote a systemic change in laboratory practices and approach to research. Comprehensive evidence for the environmental impact of laboratories and their root-causes is presented, expanded with data from a current case study of the University of Groningen showcasing annual savings of 398 763 € as well as 477.1 tons of CO2e. This is followed by guidelines for sustainable lab practices and hands-on advice on how to achieve a systemic change at research institutions and industry. How can we expect industry, politics, and society to change, if we as scientists are not changing either? Scientists should lead by example and practice the change they want to see.

Self-healing polyacrylates based on dynamic disulfide and quadruple hydrogen bonds

Herein, a self-healing polyacrylate system was successfully prepared by introducing crosslinking agents containing disulfide bonds and monomers capable of forming quadruple hydrogen bonds through free radical copolymerization. This polymer material exhibited good toughness and self-healing properties through chemical and physical dual dynamic networks while maintaining excellent mechanical properties, which expanded the development path of self-healing acrylate materials. Compared to uncrosslinked and single dynamically crosslinked polymers, its elongation at break was as high as 437%, and its tensile strength was 5.48 MPa. Due to the presence of dual reversible dynamic bonds in the copolymer system, good self-healing was also achieved at 60 °C. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis measurements confirmed that the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the material were improved owing to the presence of physical and chemical cross-linking networks.

Light-Mediated Polymerization Catalyzed by Carbon Nanomaterials

Carbon nanomaterials, specifically carbon dots and carbon nitrides, play a crucial role as heterogeneous photoinitiators in both radical and cationic polymerization processes. These recently introduced materials offer promising solutions to the limitations of current homogeneous systems, presenting a novel approach to photopolymerization. This review highlights the preparation and photocatalytic performance of these nanomaterials, emphasizing their application in various polymerization techniques, including photoinduced i) free radical, ii) RAFT, iii) ATRP, and iv) cationic photopolymerization. Additionally, it discusses their potential in addressing contemporary challenges and explores prospects in this field. Moreover, carbon nitrides, in particular, exhibit exceptional oxygen tolerance, underscoring their significance in radical polymerization processes and allowing their applications such as 3D printing, surface modification of coatings, and hydrogel engineering.

Multiphasic Continuous-Flow Reactors for Handling Gaseous Reagents in Organic Synthesis: Enhancing Efficiency and Safety in Chemical Processes

The use of reactive gaseous reagents for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) remains a scientific challenge due to safety and efficiency limitations. The implementation of continuous-flow reactors has resulted in rapid development of gas-handling technology because of several advantages such as increased interfacial area, improved mass- and heat transfer, and seamless scale-up. This technology enables shorter and more atom-economic synthesis routes for the production of pharmaceutical compounds. Herein, we provide an overview of literature from 2016 onwards in the development of gas-handling continuous-flow technology as well as the use of gases in functionalization of APIs.

Nanodiamond-structured zinc composite coatings with strong bonding and high load-bearing capacity

The aerospace and automotive industries find that relying solely on the intrinsic resistance of alloys is inadequate to safeguard aircraft and automotive structural components from harsh environmental conditions. While it is difficult to attribute accidents exclusively to coating failure due to the involvement of multiple factors, there are instances where defects in the coating initiate a wear or degradation process, leading to premature and unplanned structural failures. Metallic coatings have been introduced to protect the aircraft mainly from wear due to the extreme temperatures and moisture exposure during their service life. Bare metallic coatings have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced frequently. Herein, the strength and wear resistance of zinc (Zn) coating is enhanced using varying concentrations of diamond particles as an additive in the Zn matrix (Zn-D). The dispersion strengthening mechanism is attributed to the high hardness (70 HRC), and reduced friction-of-coefficient (0.21) and dissipation energy (4.6 × 10-4 J) of electrodeposited Zn-D7.5 (7.5 g l-1 of diamond concentration) composite coating. Moreover, enhanced wear resistance with minimum wear volume (1.12 × 10-3 mm3) and wear rate (1.25 × 10-3 mm3 N-1 m-1) of the Zn-D7.5 composite coating resulted in perfect blending of diamond with Zn. The improved hardness and wear resistance for Zn-D7.5 (optimum 7.5 g l-1 diamond concentration) is due to the steadiness between well-dispersed diamonds in Zn and enrichment in load-bearing ability due to the incorporation of diamond particles. Electronic structure calculations on the zinc-diamond composite models (two configurations adopted) have been performed using the density functional theory (DFT) approach, and the in silico studies appeared to facilitate meaningful and evocative outcomes. Zn-doped diamond (C10@Zn) without hydrogen (H) atoms (binding energy: 418 kcal mol-1, i.e. showing an endothermic reaction and thermodynamically not favourable) was detected to be more stable than the Zn-doped diamond (C10H16@Zn) consisting of hydrogen (H) atoms (binding energy: -33.3 kcal mol-1, i.e. showing an exothermic reaction and thermodynamically preferable). Thus, a composite coating of zinc and diamond can be a suitable candidate for the aerospace and automotive industries.

Iron oxide-promoted photochemical oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a valuable green oxidant with a wide range of applications. Furthermore, it is recognized as a possible future energy carrier achieving safe operation, storage and transportation. The photochemical production of H2O2 serves as a promising alternative to the waste- and energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Following the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, we demonstrate a facile and general approach to sustainable catalyst development utilizing earth-abundant iron and biobased sources only. We developed several iron oxide (FeOx) nanoparticles (NPs) for successful photochemical oxygen reduction to H2O2 under visible light illumination (445 nm). Achieving a selectivity for H2O2 of >99%, the catalyst material could be recycled for up to four consecutive rounds. An apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 0.11% was achieved for the photochemical oxygen reduction to H2O2 with visible light (445 nm) at ambient temperatures and pressures (9.4-14.8 mmol g-1 L-1). Reaching productivities of H2O2 of at least 1.7 ± 0.3 mmol g-1 L-1 h-1, production of H2O2 was further possible via sunlight irradiation and in seawater. Finally, a detailed mechanism has been proposed on the basis of experimental investigation of the catalyst's properties and computational results.

Thermal/Blue Light Induced Cross-Linking of Acrylic Coatings with Diazo Compounds

The thermal curing of industrial coatings (e.g., car painting and metal coil coatings) is accompanied by a substantial energy consumption due to the intrinsically high temperatures required during the curing process. Therefore, the development of new photochemical curing processes-preferably using visible light-is in high demand. This work describes new diazo-based cross-linkers that can be used to photocure acrylic coatings using blue light. This work demonstrates that the structure of the tethered diazo compounds influences the cross-linking efficiency, finding that side reactions are suppressed upon engineering greater molecular flexibility. Importantly, this work shows that these diazo compounds can be employed as either thermal or photochemical cross-linkers, exhibiting identical crosslinking performances. The performance of diazo-cross-linked coatings is evaluated to reveal excellent water resistance and demonstrably similar material properties to UV-cured acrylates. These studies pave the way for further usage of diazo-functionalized cross-linkers in the curing of paints and coatings.

Electron-Poor Butenolides: The Missing Link between Acrylates and Maleic Anhydride in Radical Polymerization

Butenolides are a class of 5-membered lactones that hold great potential as bio-based monomers to replace oil-derived acrylates, of which they are cyclic analogues. Despite this structural resemblance, the reactivity of the unsaturated ester moiety of electron-poor butenolides leans toward that of maleic anhydride, another essential monomer that does not homopolymerize but copolymerizes in a highly alternating fashion with polarized electron-rich comonomers. By studying the reactivity of 5-methoxy and 5-acyloxy butenolides through a combination of kinetics and density functional theory (DFT) experiments, we explain why electron-poor butenolides constitute a missing link between acrylates and maleic anhydride in radical polymerization.

Sustainable Elastomers for Actuators: "Green" Synthetic Approaches and Material Properties

Elastomeric materials have great application potential in actuator design and soft robot development. The most common elastomers used for these purposes are polyurethanes, silicones, and acrylic elastomers due to their outstanding physical, mechanical, and electrical properties. Currently, these types of polymers are produced by traditional synthetic methods, which may be harmful to the environment and hazardous to human health. The development of new synthetic routes using green chemistry principles is an important step to reduce the ecological footprint and create more sustainable biocompatible materials. Another promising trend is the synthesis of other types of elastomers from renewable bioresources, such as terpenes, lignin, chitin, various bio-oils, etc. The aim of this review is to address existing approaches to the synthesis of elastomers using "green" chemistry methods, compare the properties of sustainable elastomers with the properties of materials produced by traditional methods, and analyze the feasibility of said sustainable elastomers for the development of actuators. Finally, the advantages and challenges of existing "green" methods of elastomer synthesis will be summarized, along with an estimation of future development prospects.

Hydrazone-based boron difluoride complexes as triplet photosensitizers for singlet oxygen generation

Due to the highly selective nature of singlet oxygen as an oxidant, it has received considerable interest in various areas of (organic) chemistry. Two green light activated hydrazone-based boron difluoride triplet photosensitizers possessing high quantum yields for ¹O₂ formation are reported. These photostable complexes are promising in applications in synthesis and catalysis.

The Diverse Modes of Oxygen Reactivity in Life & Chemistry

Oxygen is a molecule of utmost importance in our lives. Beside its vital role for the respiration and sustaining of organisms, oxygen is involved in numerous chemical and physical processes. Upon combination of the different forms of molecular oxygen species with various activation modes, substrates, and reaction conditions an extremely wide chemical space can be covered that enables rich applications of diverse oxygenation processes. This Review provides an instructive overview of the individual properties and reactivities of oxygen species and illustrates their importance in nature, everyday life, and in the context of chemical synthesis.

Development of a modular photoreactor for the upscaling of continuous flow photochemistry

The upscaling of biphasic photochemical reactions is challenging because of the inherent constraints of liquid-gas mixing and light penetration. Using semi-permeable coaxial flow chemistry within a modular photoreactor, the photooxidation of the platform chemical furfural was scaled up to produce routinely 29 gram per day of biobased building block hydroxybutenolide, a precursor to acrylate alternatives.

A Chemically Recyclable Crosslinked Polymer Network Enabled by Orthogonal Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

Chemical recycling of synthetic polymers offers a solution for developing sustainable plastics and materials. Here we show that two types of dynamic covalent chemistry can be orthogonalized in a solvent-free polymer network and thus enable a chemically recyclable crosslinked material. Using a simple acylhydrazine-based 1,2-dithiolane as the starting material, the disulfide-mediated reversible polymerization and acylhydrazone-based dynamic covalent crosslinking can be combined in a one-pot solvent-free reaction, resulting in mechanically robust, tough, and processable crosslinked materials. The dynamic covalent bonds in both backbones and crosslinkers endow the network with depolymerization capability under mild conditions and, importantly, virgin-quality monomers can be recovered and separated. This proof-of-concept study show opportunities to design chemically recyclable materials based on the dynamic chemistry toolbox.

Rapid and Replaceable Luminescent Coating for Silicon-Based Microreactors Enabling Energy-Efficient Solar Photochemistry

The sun is the most sustainable source of photons on the earth but is rarely used in photochemical transformations due its relatively low and variable intensity, broad wavelength range, and lack of focus. Luminescent solar concentrator-based photomicroreactors (LSC-PMs) can be an answer to all these issues, but widespread adoption is plagued by challenges associated with their complicated manufacturing. Herein, we developed a new strategy to accelerate and ease the production of LSC-PMs by depositing a thin luminescent film on commercially and widely available silicon-based microreactors. The protocol is fast and operationally simple, and the luminescent coating can be easily removed and replaced. This enables rapid tuning of the luminescent coating to fit the requirements of the photocatalytic system and to increase the photon flux inside the microreactor channels.

Technological Innovations in Photochemistry for Organic Synthesis: Flow Chemistry, High-Throughput Experimentation, Scale-up, and Photoelectrochemistry

Photoinduced chemical transformations have received in recent years a tremendous amount of attention, providing a plethora of opportunities to synthetic organic chemists. However, performing a photochemical transformation can be quite a challenge because of various issues related to the delivery of photons. These challenges have barred the widespread adoption of photochemical steps in the chemical industry. However, in the past decade, several technological innovations have led to more reproducible, selective, and scalable photoinduced reactions. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of these exciting technological advances, including flow chemistry, high-throughput experimentation, reactor design and scale-up, and the combination of photo- and electro-chemistry.

Highly Efficient Biobased Synthesis of Acrylic Acid

Petrochemical based polymers, paints and coatings are cornerstones of modern industry but our future sustainable society demands greener processes and renewable feedstock materials. A challenge is to access platform monomers from biomass resources while integrating the principles of green chemistry in their chemical synthesis. We present a synthesis route starting from biomass-derived furfural towards the commonly used monomers maleic anhydride and acrylic acid, implementing environmentally benign photooxygenation, aerobic oxidation and ethenolysis reactions. Maleic anhydride and acrylic acid, transformed into sodium acrylate, were isolated in yields of 85 % (2 steps) and 81 % (4 steps), respectively. With minimal waste and high atom efficiency, this biobased route provides a viable alternative to access key monomers.

Continuous flow technology-a tool for safer oxidation chemistry

The advantages and benefits of continuous flow technology for oxidation chemistry have been illustrated in tube reactors, micro-channel reactors, tube-in-tube reactors and micro-packed bed reactors in the presence of various oxidants.

Production of Copolyester Monomers from Plant-Based Acrylate and Acetaldehyde

PCTA is an important copolyester that has been widely used in our daily necessities. Currently, its monomers are industrially produced from petroleum-derived xylene. To reduce the reliance on fossil energy, we herein disclose an alternative route to access PCTA monomer (terephthalate/isophthalate=2.4/1) in 61 % overall yield using plant-based acrylate and acetaldehyde as the feedstocks. The process includes Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of acetaldehyde with acrylate, subsequent one-step dehydration/Diels-Alder reaction with acrylate over H₂ SO₄ /SiO₂ catalyst, and final Pd/C-catalyzed dehydrogenation. Besides, when varying the final step to hydrogenation, another important monomer UNOXOL™ diol (1,4-trans/1,4-cis/1,3-trans/1,3-cis=5.2/2/2.5/1) can be produced in 67 % overall yield.

Pinene-Based Oxidative Synthetic Toolbox for Scalable Polyester Synthesis

Generation of renewable polymers is a long-standing goal toward reaching a more sustainable society, but building blocks in biomass can be incompatible with desired polymerization type, hampering the full implementation potential of biomaterials. Herein, we show how conceptually simple oxidative transformations can be used to unlock the inherent reactivity of terpene synthons in generating polyesters by two different mechanisms starting from the same α-pinene substrate. In the first pathway, α-pinene was oxidized into the bicyclic verbanone-based lactone and subsequently polymerized into star-shaped polymers via ring-opening polymerization, resulting in a biobased semicrystalline polyester with tunable glass transition and melting temperatures. In a second pathway, polyesters were synthesized via polycondensation, utilizing the diol 1-(1'-hydroxyethyl)-3-(2'-hydroxy-ethyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclobutane (HHDC) synthesized by oxidative cleavage of the double bond of α-pinene, together with unsaturated biobased diesters such as dimethyl maleate (DMM) and dimethyl itaconate (DMI). The resulting families of terpene-based polyesters were thereafter successfully cross-linked by either transetherification, utilizing the terminal hydroxyl groups of the synthesized verbanone-based materials, or by UV irradiation, utilizing the unsaturation provided by the DMM or DMI moieties within the HHDC-based copolymers. This work highlights the potential to apply an oxidative toolbox to valorize inert terpene metabolites enabling generation of biosourced polyesters and coatings thereof by complementary mechanisms.