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The synthesis of a new biobased aromatic diisocyanate derived from lignocellulosic raw material, namely guaiacol and vanillyl alcohol, through phosgene-free route offers the prospect of greener approaches for isocyanate production and the polyurethane industry. Indeed, bisguaiacol F diisocyanate (BGI) was obtained via a three-step process from readily available bisguaiacol F (BGF), involving conversion of aromatic amine into aromatic isocyanate. The unusual transition-metal-free conversion of BGF to bisguaiacol F diamine (BGA) was performed by a two-step approach: (a) the Williamson-type alkylation of BGF and then (b) the base-promoted Smiles rearrangement of bis O-alkylated BGF. In order to improve the sustainability of this process, the first step was realized under solvent-free mechanochemical conditions, and the second step was performed using two different activating methods: thermal and microwave. The thermal process provided an isolated BGA yield of ca. 70%. Microwave activation proved to be an interesting alternative, although a lower yield (32%) of the desired BGA was achieved. Finally, the diisocyanate synthesis was performed via a phosgene-free/room temperature protocol using di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Two polyurethane thermosets were designed and synthesized using the aromatic diisocyanates, biobased BGI and petrochemical-based methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), by a solvent-free two-step polymerization. Their thermo-chemical properties as well as their reactivities for polymer synthesis were evaluated. These preliminary results suggest that BGI could be potentially used as a nearly fully biobased surrogate for MDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search of smarter routes to control the conditions of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHCs) formation, a two‐component air‐stable NHC photogenerating system is reported. It relies on the irradiation at 365 nm of a mixture of 2‐isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) with 1,3‐bis(mesityl)imidazoli(ni)um tetraphenylborate. The photoinduced liberation of NHC is evidenced by reaction with a mesitoyl radical to form an NHC‐radical adduct detectable by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The NHC yield can be determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy through the formation of a soluble and stable NHC–carbodiimide adduct. To deprotonate the azolium salt and liberate the NHC, a mechanism is proposed in which the role of base is played by ITX radical anion formed in situ by a primary photoinduced electron‐transfer reaction between electronically excited ITX (oxidant) and BPh4− (reductant). An NHC yield as high as 70 % is achieved upon starting with a stoichiometric ratio of ITX and azolium salt. Three different photoNHC‐mediated polymerizations are described: synthesis of polyurethane and polyester by organocatalyzed step‐growth polymerization and ring‐opening copolymerization, respectively, and generation of polynorbornene by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using an NHC‐coordinated Ru catalyst formed in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 1,3‐Bis(mesityl)imidazolium tetraphenylborate (IMesH+ BPh4−) can be synthesized in one step by anion metathesis between the corresponding imidazolium chloride and sodium tetraphenylborate. In the presence of 2‐isopropylthioxanthone (sensitizer), an IMes N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand can be photogenerated under irradiation at 365 nm through coupled electron/proton transfer reactions. By combining this tandem NHC photogenerator system with metathesis inactive [RuCl2(p‐cymene)]2 precatalyst, the highly active RuCl2(p‐cymene)(IMes) complex can be formed in situ, enabling a complete ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene in the matter of minutes at room temperature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a photogenerated NHC. Its exploitation in photoROMP has resulted in a simplified process compared to current photocatalysts, because only stable commercial or easily synthesized reagents are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this study, various organic compounds, with different activation modes, have been tested as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomers (CBT) in bulk at 210 °C, using tert-butylbenzyl alcohol (tBnOH) as initiator. Among them, 1,3,5-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) appeared to be the most efficient, achieving high monomer conversions in short reaction times (within minutes). Analysis by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) of the poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) synthesized using this catalyst also showed that the polymerization follows the expected theoretical Mn trend for molecular weights up to 50 kg·mol−1. Chain-end fidelity relatively to the alcohol initiator has been confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, which showed that all polymer chains possess the tert-butylbenzyl moiety as chain-end. Finally, to demonstrate the potential of this system for the synthesis of PBT-based block copolymers, a monomethyl ether poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of 5000 g·mol−1 has been employed as initiator for the ROP of CBT. A PEO- b-PBT block copolymer of 15,000 g·mol−1 could thus been obtained, as confirmed by the shift of the SEC traces towards higher molecular weights and the same diffusion coefficient determined for 1H NMR signals of the PEO block and the PBT block. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1611-1619 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Synthesis of novel poly(ionic liquid)s, namely, poly(1-vinyl-3-alkylimidazolium hydrogen carbonate)s, denoted as poly([NHC(H)][HCO3])s or PVRImHCO3, where R is an alkyl group (R = ethyl, butyl, phenylethyl, dodecyl), is described. Two distinct synthetic routes were explored. The first method is based on the free-radical polymerization (FRP) of 1-vinyl-3-alkylimidazolium monomers featuring a hydrogen carbonate counter anion (HCO3−), denoted as VRImHCO3. The latter monomers were readily synthesized by alkylation of 1-vinylimidazole (VIm), followed by direct anion exchange of 1-vinyl-3-alkylimidazolium bromide monomers (VRImBr), using potassium hydrogen carbonate (KHCO3) in methanol at room temperature. Alternatively, the same anion exchange method could be applied onto FRP-derived poly(1-vinyl-3-alkylimidazolium bromide) precursors (PVRImBr). All PVRImHCO3 salts proved air stable and could be manipulated without any particular precautions. They could serve as polymer-supported precatalysts to generate polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbenes, referred to as poly(NHC)s, formally by a loss of 'H2CO3' (H2O +CO2) in solution. This was demonstrated through selected organocatalyzed reactions of molecular chemistry, known as being efficiently mediated by molecular NHC catalysts, including benzoin condensation, transesterification and cyanosilylation of aldehyde. Of particular interest, recycling of the polymer-supported precatalysts was possible by re-carboxylation of in situ generated poly(NHC)s. Organocatalyzed reactions could be performed with excellent yields, even after five catalytic cycles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4530-4540 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]