Biobased Carbohydrate-Based Linear Aliphatic Polyesters Containing Acetyl-Protected Sorbitol, Mannitol, and Xylitol:...

Development of functional polymers from biorenewable resources has been considered as an important subject in terms of circular economy. High molecular weight biobased aliphatic polyesters (M _n = 53900-65600 g/mol) consisting of bis-(undec-10-enoate) of acetyl-protected D-sorbitol, D-mannitol, and of D-xylitol have been prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization using molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst in toluene; subsequent olefin hydrogenation gave the saturated polyesters without significant decreases in the M _n values (M _n = 55300-64900 g/mol). The resultant saturated polyesters containing sorbitol and xylitol were semicrystalline materials possessing melting temperature at 17.1 and 14.3 °C, respectively, whereas the polyester containing mannitol was amorphous. The mechanical properties (tensile stress and elongation at break) of the resultant polymer film containing sorbitol displayed a unique contrast to that containing the reported isosorbide-based polyester and showed unique elongation at break (1580%). The mechanical properties in the polymer films containing mannitol and xylitol were improved by preparing the composite materials with a small amount of cellulose nanofiber (1.0 wt %).