LAUSR

In this work; the synthesis of the terpene-based limonene lactam prepared from limonene epoxide is presented; as well as its subsequent ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to novel polyamides. Sustainable; biobased materials are gaining interest as replacement of conventional; petroleum-based materials; and even more important; as materials with enhanced performance for new applications. Terpenes - structurally advanced biobased compounds - are therefore of great interest. In this research a promising biobased monomer for preparing sustainable polyamides via ROP could be synthesized by transforming limonene to limonene lactam. Limonene lactam posseses an isopropylene and a methyl side group; thus stereocenters posing special challenges and requirements for their synthesis; analysis and polymerization. However; these difficult-to-synthesize structural elements generate; if sucessfully incorporated into the polymer; novel polymers with unique properties;, e.g., functionalizability. In this work; a successful; sustainable monomer synthesis is established; and simplification to industrial needs through improvements of the synthesis route regarding purification and upscaling is achieved. For the sterically demanding in-bulk ROP to limonene-based polyamides; various initiators and conditions were tested. Polyamides with more than 100 monomer units were sucessfully synthesized and confirmed via NMR and GPC. DSC and TGA were used to analyze its thermal properties. In summary; a sustainable limonene lactam synthesis is established; and promising polyamides with an intact double bond and interesting thermal properties are achieved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.