Controlled/living polymerization of renewable vinyl monomers into bio-based polymers

In this focused review, I present an overview of our recent research on bio-based polymers produced by the controlled/living polymerization of naturally occurring or derived renewable monomers, such as terpenes, phenylpropanoids and itaconic derivatives. The judicious choice of initiating system, which was borrowed from conventional petrochemical monomers, not only allowed the polymerization to proceed efficiently but also produced well-defined controlled/living polymers from these renewable monomers. We were able to find several controlled/living systems for renewable monomers that resulted in novel bio-based polymers, including a cycloolefin polymer, an AAB alternating copolymer with an end-to-end sequence, a phenolic and high-T-g alternating styrenic copolymer, and an acrylic thermoplastic elastomer.