Synthesis, characterization, and water-degradation of biorenewable polyesters derived from natural camphoric acid?

Green Chemistry Pub Date: 2019-02-14 DOI: 10.1039/C8GC03990A

Abstract

Camphoric acid, an inexpensive and biorenewable diacid derived from the terpene (+)-camphor, was copolymerized with a variety of diols to afford polyesters with glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from ?16 °C to 125 °C. Polyethylene camphorate (PEC, 51 °C), polyerythritan camphorate (100 °C), and polyisosorbide camphorate (125 °C) exhibited Tg values matching or excelling those of important commercial polymers. Agitation of PEC in deionized water for 14 days dramatically degraded the polymer from Mn = 20?200 to Mn < 600. Incremental replacement of terephthalic acid with camphoric acid led to a series of polyethylene (camphorate/terephthalate) analogues with increased biobased content and Tg values (71 to 41 °C) that were diminished, but still competitive with that of polylactic acid (PLA).

Graphical abstract: Synthesis, characterization, and water-degradation of biorenewable polyesters derived from natural camphoric acid
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