Designing polymers and developing polymerization processes that are safe, prevent pollution, and are more efficient in the use of materials and engergy is an important topic in modern chemistry. Today, green polymer research can be seen increasingly in academia nd industry. It tackles all aspects of polymers and polymerization - everything from chemical feedstocks, synthetic pathways, and reaction media to the nature of the final polymer as related to its inherent nontoxicity or degradability. This book summarizes and evaluates the latest developments in green polymerization methods. Specifically, new catalytic methods and processes which incorporate renewable resources will be discussed by leading experts in the field of polymer chemistry. This book is a must-have for Polymer Chemists, Chemists Working with/on Organometallics, Biochemists, Physical Chemists, Chemical Engineers, Biotechnologists, Materials Scientists, and Catalytic Chemists.

Robert T. Mathers graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in chemistry. After working under the direction of Professor Roderic P. Quirk at The University of Akron, he obtained a PhD in Polymer Science in 2002. After two years of postdoctoral research at Cornell University with Professor Geoffrey W. Coates in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, he joined Pennsylvania State University. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the New Kensington campus. His research interests focus on green polymerization methods that integrate renewable resources, such as monoterpenes, with catalysis. Robert has also served as coeditor for the Handbook of Transition Metal Polymerization Catalysts published by Wiley. Michael A. R. Meier (born 1975) studied chemistry at the University of Regensburg and obtained his doctorate in 2006 from the Eindhoven University of Technology, for which he was awarded with the Golden Thesis Award of the Dutch Polymer Institute. In 2006 he was appointed principal investigator of the junior research group Renewable Raw Materials at the University of Applied Sciences in Emden, Germany. In June 2009 he became Juniorprofessor for Sustainable Organic Synthesis at the University of Potsdam, Germany. Since October 2010 he is full professor at the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 2010 he was awarded with the European Young Lipid Scientist Award of European Federation for the Science and Technology of Lipids. His current research focuses on a sustainable use of plant oils and other renewable resources for the synthesis of novel monomers, fine chemicals, and polymers. He is an author of more than 70 journal publications and co-inventor on three patents.

PART I: Introduction WHY ARE GREEN POLYMERIZATION METHODS RELEVANT TO SOCIETY, INDUSTRY, AND ACADEMICS? Status and Outlook for Environmentally Benign Processes Importance of Catalysis Brief Summaries of Contributions PART II: Integration of Renewable Starting Materials PLANT OILS AS RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCK FOR POLYMER SCIENCE Introduction Cross-Linked Materials Non-Cross-Linked Polymers Conclusion FURANS AS OFFSPRINGS OF SUGARS AND POLYSACCHARIDES AND PROGENITORS OF AN EMBLEMATIC FAMILY OF POLYMER SIBLINGS Introduction First Generation Furans and their Conversion into Monomers Polymers from Furfuryl Alcohol Conjugated Polymers and Oligomers Polyesters Polyamides Polyurethanes Furyl Oxirane Application of the Diels-Alder Reaction to Furan Polymers Conclusions SELECTIVE CONVERSION OF GLYCEROL INTO FUNCTIONAL MONOMERS VIA CATALYTIC PROCESSES Introduction Conversion of Glycerol into Glycerol Carbonate Conversion of Glycerol into Acrolein/Acrylic Acid Conversion of Glycerol into Glycidol Oxidation of Glycerol to Functional Carboxylic Acid Conversion of Glycerol into Acrylonitrile Selective Conversion of Glycerol into Propylene Glycol Selective Coupling of Glycerol with Functional Monomers Conclusion PART III: Sustainable Reaction Conditions MONOTERPENES AS POLYMERIZATION SOLVENTS AND MONOMERS IN POLYMER CHEMISTRY Introduction Monoterpenes as Monomers Monoterpenes as Solvents and Chain Transfer Agents Conclusion CONTROLLED AND LIVING POLYMERIZATION IN WATER: MODERN METHODS AND APPLICATION TO BIO-SYNTHETIC HYBRID MATERIALS Introduction Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) Living Free Radical Methods for Bio-Synthetic Hybrid Materials TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION: BIODIESEL AS A POLYMERIZATION SOLVENT Introduction Solution Polymerization and Green Solvents Biodiesel as a Polymerization Solvent Experimental Section Effect of FAME Solvent on Polymerization Kinetics Effect of Biodiesel Feedstock Conclusion PART IV: Catalytic Processes RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF RENEWABLE SIX-MEMBERED CYCLIC CARBONATES. MONOMER SYNTHESIS AND CATALYSIS Introduction Preparation of 1,3-Propanediol from Renewable Resources Preparation of Dimethylcarbonate from Renewable Resources Synthesis of Trimethylene Carbonate Six-Membered Cyclic Carbonates: Thermodynamic Properties of Ring-Opening Polymerization Catalytic Processes Using Green Catalysts Methods Thermoplastic Elastomers and their Biodegradation Processes Concluding Remarks POLY(LACTIDE)S AS ROBUST RENEWABLE MATERIALS Introduction Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide Poly(lactide) Properties Thermoplastic Elastomers Future Developments/Outlook SYNTHESIS OF SACCHARIDE-DERIVED FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS Introduction Polyethers Polyamides Polyurethanes and Polyureas Glycosilicones DEGRADABLE AND BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS BY CONTROLLED/LIVING RADICAL POLYMERIZATION: FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION Introduction (Bio)degradable Polymers by CRP Conclusions PART V: Biomimetic Methods and Biocatalysis HIGH-PERFORMANCE POLYMERS FROM PHENOLIC BIOMONOMERS Introduction Coumarates as Phytomonomers LC Properties of Homopolymers LC Copolymers for Biomaterials LC Copolymers for Photofunctional Polymers LC Copolymers for High Heat-Resistant Polymers Conclusion ENZYMATIC POLYMER SYNTHESIS IN GREEN CHEMISTRY Introduction Polymers Green Media for Enzymatic Polymerization Conclusions and Outlook GREEN CATIONIC POLYMERIZATIONS AND POLYMER FUNCTIONALIZATION FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY Introduction Enzyme Catalysis "Green" Cationic Polymerizations and Polymer Functionalization Using Lipases Natural Rubber Biosynthesis - The Ultimate Green Cationic Polymerization Green Synthetic Cationic Polymerization and Copolymerization of Isoprene