The synthesis and cationic polymerization of novel monomers from renewable sources

This communication describes recent developments in this laboratory directed towards the design of cationically polymerizable monomers from biorenewable sources. Three classes of ubiquitous biorenewable substrates were explored, namely: lipids, carbohydrates and terpenes. Considered in the synthesis and design were the cost and availability of the substrates, and the practicality and environmental acceptability of the chemical methodology. The polymerizations of the monomers were carried out using photoinitiated cationic polymerization.