Acyclic Triene Metathesis Polymerization of Plukenetia Conophora Oil: Branched Polymers by Direct Polymerization of Renewable Resources

Oil from the Plukenetia conophora seed, a tropical oilseed consisting mainly of linolenic acid, is polymerized via acyclic triene metathesis using different ruthenium benzylidene and indenylidene catalysts to yield highly branched and functionalized polyesters. The influence of the synthesis conditions on the structure and molar mass characteristics of the obtained hyperbranched polyesters as well as an in-depth melt and solution material property investigation are presented.