Transition-metal-free synthesis of supramolecular ionic alginate-based polyurethanes

Novel high molecular weight alginate-based supramolecular ionic polyurethane (SPU) networks were prepared via the reaction of chemically modified polyanionic alginate and isocyanate-terminated cationic oligourethanes under transition-metal-free conditions. Alginate, a naturally occurring polyanionic carbohydrate diol possessing carboxylate groups, was considered as both chain extender and the anionic part of SPU network. The tailor-made, ionically crosslinked linear alginate-based SPUs illustrated superior thermal stability with a decomposition temperature around 500°C at 10% weight loss which specializes them as highly thermally stable, wonder materials compared to the today's high-tech products.