Oxidized dihydrocarvone as a renewable multifunctional monomer for the synthesis of shape memory polyesters

Biomacromolecules. 2009 Jul 13;10(7):2003-8. doi: 10.1021/bm900471a. Epub 2009 Jun 8.

Abstract

The natural product dihydrocarvone, found in caraway oil, was oxidized to an epoxylactone on a multigram scale. The resulting epoxylactone was used as a multifunctional monomer and cross-linker in ring-opening polymerizations. Homopolymerization using diethylzinc and tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate gave only low molecular weight oligomers (apparent M(n) less than 2.5 kg/mol). Copolymerizations of ε-caprolactone and 0.3 to 50% of the epoxylactone gave flexible cross-linked materials on a multigram scale in a one-step synthesis. The gel fraction of these copolymers was determined. These copolymers showed near perfect shape memory properties even after repeated bending.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Caproates
  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Lactones
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Monoterpenes / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pliability
  • Polyesters / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymerization
  • Tin
  • Zinc

Substances

  • Caproates
  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Lactones
  • Monoterpenes
  • Polyesters
  • 2-ethylhexanoic acid tin(II) salt
  • caprolactone
  • Tin
  • carvone
  • Zinc