Biorenewable polyethylene terephthalate mimics derived from lignin and acetic acid

Lignin-based vanillin and acetic anhydride are subjected to the Perkin reaction and then hydrogenation to afford acetyldihydroferulic acid. Polymerization of this monomer yields poly(dihydroferulic acid), which exhibits thermal properties functionally similar to those of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).