Renewable polymers derived from ferulic acid and biobased diols via ADMET

Renewable alpha,omega-diene monomers have been prepared from ferulic acid, biosourced diols (isosorbide and butanediol) and bromo-alkenes using a chemo-enzymatic synthetic pathway then studied as monomers in ADMET polymerization. All monomers and polymers have been thoroughly characterized using NMR, GPC, DSC and TGA. ADMET polymerization was optimized with regard to catalyst loading (Hoveyda-Grubbs II), reaction medium (in mass vs. in solvent), and temperature, which led to polymers with molecular weight up to 25 kDa. Thermal analysis of these new poly(ester-alkenamer)s showed excellent thermal stabilities (283-370 degrees C) and tunable T-g depending on the nature of the biobased diol and the chain length of the alkene in the alpha,omega-diene monomer. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.