The future of isosorbide as a fundamental constituent for polycarbonates and polyurethanes

Abstract

Isosorbide is a biobased compound which could become in the near future an advantageous competitor of petroleum-derived components in the synthesis of polymers of different nature. When the reactivity of isosorbide is not enough, it can be successfully transformed into secondary building blocks, such as isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate), which provides extra functionalities for polymerization reactions with diols or diamines. The present review summarizes the possibilities for isosorbide as a green raw material to be used in the synthesis of polycarbonates and polyurethanes to obtain products of similar or enhanced properties to the commercial equivalents.

Colorless, Low Dielectric, and Optically Active Semialicyclic Polyimides Incorporating a Biobased Isosorbide Moiety in the Main Chain

“…2,8 Its unique structure, low cost, and available mass production have led to extensive research on its application to engineering plastics as well as conventional polymers. 1,9 The synthesis and properties of PC or PEs produced from ISS have been reported. 2 In particular, a biobased PC 10,11 derived by the copolymerization of monomers from ISS is one of the few successful examples of biobased practical engineering plastics.…”

“…However, homo-PC polymerized from an ISSderived monomer presents fragility, high melt viscosity, and hence difficulties in moldability due to the high rigidity of the ISS moiety. 9 Thus, it is essential to balance sufficient thermal resistance, high mechanical properties, and biobased fractions corresponding to the ISS content to develop functional superengineering plastics using biobased materials. 12−15 Polyimides (PIs) are excellent superengineered polymers with extremely high thermal resistance, chemical stability, electrical insulation, and mechanical strength.…”

“…Isosorbide (ISS), a type of 1,4;3,6-dianhydrohexitol (isohexide), is a diol with a bulky and rigid alicyclic structure that is produced from renewable biomass resources such as cellulose (Figure ). , Its unique structure, low cost, and available mass production have led to extensive research on its application to engineering plastics as well as conventional polymers. , The synthesis and properties of PC or PEs produced from ISS have been reported . In particular, a biobased PC , derived by the copolymerization of monomers from ISS is one of the few successful examples of biobased practical engineering plastics.…”

Toward Renewable Amines: Recent Advances in the Catalytic Amination of Biomass-Derived Oxygenates

“…Isohexides derived from cellulosic biomass have received significant attention in research during the past decade, thanks to various applications such as pharmaceuticals, materials, cosmetics, and polymers. − ,, The incorporation of isohexides leads to a higher T g , thus allowing high-temperature applications in polymer industries. Driven by the global bioplastic demand, the market size of isosorbide was 31.5 kilotons per year in 2014 valued at around US$250.0 million and is expected to grow with a CAGR of around 9%. , Polyurethane alone has a high global demand which was estimated at around 18.4 million tons per year in 2019 and is expected to reach 22.5 million tons by 2024 .…”

Chemocatalytic value addition of glucose without carbon–carbon bond cleavage/formation reactions: an overview

“…, chemical, thermal), renewability, inexpensiveness, and biodegradability of IS make it a lucrative monomer for several high-volume and engineering polymers, including polyesters, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and polyamides. 193–195 IS has also been used to synthesize small molecules, such as fuel oxygenates, solvents, plasticizers, surfactants, flame retardants, and pharmaceuticals.…”