2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Conjugate Addition Polymerization of Glycal Monomers Using Dbu As Catalyst
Conjugate addition polymerization (CAP) is a form of polymerization used most in creating synthetic rubbers like polybutadiene or polychloroprene, from a small monomer that contains a double bond. The method boasts great control over crosslinking and flexibility, as well as a simple initiation step, utilizing a strong nucleophilic catalyst that is required in minimal amounts to begin the Michael Addition Reaction, which drives the polymerization. Our research group has taken this method and utilized it on a sugar-based monomer to form a renewable, sustainable polymer. Using D-glucal, a derivative of glucose, as the starting material, an oxidation and a protecting step ensures the required olefin and ketone functionalities on our monomer to polymerize with an added nucleophilic catalyst, DBU. Upon the removal of the protecting group, the structure of the material created has multiple alcohols that act as handles for further functionalization. This promises the discovery of various characteristics that imply a wide range of industrial applications. The project has seen great success in creating the polymer at a high molecular weight and now focuses on testing the material properties of the plastic and cross-linking chains to evaluate the effect on mechanical properties. However, there is extensive research that can be done with the novel polymer due to its sugar backbone, as there are many exploitable functional groups that can be changed to create new distinct polymers, each with unique material properties. Eventually, our group plans to create a library of sustainable polymers that can be developed from the base process of CAP to great yields. These fundamental studies allow for future work into scalability towards industrial applications, eventually using these materials in variety of applications, which will improve the usage of renewable and sustainable materials in plastic production.