Levoglucosenone-derived synthesis of bio-based solvents and polyesters

Polyesters are important materials with a wide range of applications, but there has been increasing concern over their sustainability. One example is the need for safer, bio-derived solvents to replace those currently in use polymer’s synthesis and processing. In this work, several variants bio-based cellulose/levoglucosenone derived solvent Cyrene, namely ketal derivatives dioxolane Cygnet, dioxane Cygnet dioxepane were synthesized tested as media enzymatic polycondensation reactions using building blocks. Dioxolane found be suitable reactions, being preferred solvent, yielding polymers Mn >22 kDa. addition, these biocatalyzed levoglucosenone-based polyesters. The alternative gave superior yields previously observed, demonstrating versatility representing first synthetic polymer-solvent system fully from cellulose.