Development of Rigid Monomers from Monosaccharides and Their Analogues and Application to Networked Polymer Synthesis

Abstract

Monosaccharides and their analogues have plural hydroxyl groups applicable to their chemical modifications leading to the conversion into compounds bearing fused ring systems. Such fused ring systems are under restriction in their conformational changes and thus useful as core structures to design rigid monomers. This review paper deals with 1) several sugar-derived rigid monomers such as isohexides that are rigid diols derived from monosaccharides, 2) another series of rigid diols bearing fused ring systems that can be derived from acyclic sugars through their acetalization, and 3) myo-inositol that is naturally occurring cyclic hexaol available from rice bran. The current status of their applications to networked polymers and their perspectives are discussed.