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Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
Published on: March 8, 2019
Direct synthesis of polyureas from the dehydrogenative coupling of diamines and methanol
Amit Kumar1, Daniel Armstrong1, Gavin Peters1
1School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, St. Andrews, KY169ST, UK. ak336@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Abstract:
We report here the first example of the direct synthesis of polyureas from the dehydrogenative coupling of diamines and methanol using a ruthenium pincer catalyst. The present methodology replaces the use of toxic diisocyanates, conventionally used for the production of polyureas, with methanol, which is renewable, less toxic, and cheaper, making the overall process safer and more sustainable. Further advantages of the current method have been demonstrated by the synthesis of a renewable, a chiral, and the first 13C-labelled polyurea.
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