Degradable Alternating Copolymers from Living Radical Copolymerization of Natural Levoglucosenone and Dienes

Abstract

Here, we present an efficient synthetic route to biobased alternating copolymers via the living radical copolymerization of naturally occurring levoglucosenone (LGO) and dienes. By employing reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, well-defined LGO-derived copolymers were readily synthesized featuring high degrees of alternation, well-controlled molecular weights, and excellent end-group fidelity. Additionally, the alternating copolymers exhibited thermal and mechanical properties comparable to those of the commodity polystyrene. Furthermore, an on-demand metathesis degradation was identified, highlighting their potential as degradable materials.

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