STEREOSELECTIVE COPOLYMERIZATION ENABLES DEGRADABLE, SEMICRYSTALLINE THERMOPLASTICS WITH POLYOLEFIN-LIKE PROPERTIES

Thermoplastics with excellent mechanical properties are broadly available and used ubiquitously. However, most end up in landfills or are downcycled. As a result, thermoplastics produced from sustainable materials and degradable into reusable materials are a desired commodity and their production is an active area of investigation. One approach to creating degradable thermoplastics is copolymerization: specifically, copolymerization between a monomer whose polymers usually provide the desired materials properties and a comonomer, which is capable of introducing degradable functionality into the copolymer (either innately or via its cross reaction with the first monomer). Herein, we report a novel stereoselective copolymerization between bio-derivable vinyl ethers and benzaldehydes that produces a stimuli-degradable analogue to isotactic poly(vinyl ether)s, isotactic poly(vinyl ether-co-benzaldehyde). This copolymer combines on-demand degradability with desirable material properties comparable to commercial poly(olefins).