Polymerization and Characterization of a Bio-Based Vinyl Polymer Based on 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Including a Benzoyl Group as a Side Chain

Abstract

Synthesis of a vinyl polymer with a benzoyl substituent in its side chain based on 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (HMF) was accomplished via free radical polymerization. The HMF derivative, 5-(benzoyloxymethyl) furfural, was efficiently converted to its vinyl derivative by the Wittig reaction. Then, vinyl polymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator in a solution polymerization process. The structures of the obtained vinyl monomer and resulting polymer were confirmed byusingFouriertransforminfrared,¹Hnuclearmagneticresonance(NMR),and¹³CNMRspectroscopy.The productwassubjectedtoGPC,thermogravimetricanalysis,differentialscanningcalorimetry,andX-raydiffractometry.