Muconic Acid Esters as Bio-Based Acrylate Mimics

The synthesis of polymers from radical polymerization of dialkyl muconates, a renewable monomer that is readily available from biofermentation, is described. Polymuconates are scarcly described in literature, and were previously believed to polymerize only sluggishly. In here we demonstrate the optimized polymerization that yields materials that are analoguous to classical oil-based polyacrylates. Thermal properties of the polymers are explored, and the abaility to control the polymerization via reversible deactivation radical polymerization is showcased.