Renewable Microspheres Constructed by Methyl Isoeugenol‐Derived Copolymers

Abstract

Biobased polymers have gathered a lot of interest and are currently attracting ever‐increasing attention. However, polymeric microspheres especially those derived from biomasses of small molecules, have not been extensively explored yet. This contribution reports recent exciting success in designing and preparing methyl isoeugenol (MeIE)‐derived renewable microspheres. Owing to the difficulty in homopolymerizing MeIE, it undergoes precipitation copolymerization with maleic anhydride to form the anticipated copolymeric microspheres in a high yield (both cross‐linked and non‐cross‐linked). The copolymers show high heat resistance, and the microspheres can be easily functionalized by taking advantage of the highly reactive anhydride groups. A novel type of cation exchange microspheres is further prepared by transforming the anhydride groups into carboxyl groups through hydrolyzation. The hydrolyzed microspheres demonstrate remarkable adsorption toward Cu2+ (maximum, 300 mg g−1). Accordingly, the microspheres may find practical applications, e.g., as green adsorbents. The established preparing methodology can also be taken for other bio‐phenylpropenes.

Hydrolyzation-Triggered Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence in Biobased Nonconjugated Polymers

“…The investigated biobased polymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization using biomass phenylpropenes (MeIE) and maleic anhydride (MAH, which can also be derived from biomass) as monomers. According to the intensive studies, − many electron-rich monomers (such as phenylpropenes) and electron-poor monomers (such as MAH) are difficult to undergo homopolymerization but can easily undergo free radical copolymerization to prepare alternating copolymers. Therefore, MeIE and MAH are considered undergoing alternating copolymerization under the investigated conditions, similar to the reported copolymerization systems comprising MAH and styrene monomers. − Unexpectedly, the biobased copolymers can emit blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light.…”