Synthesis of biorenewable and water-degradable polylactam esters from itaconic acid†
Abstract
Itaconic acid, a naturally occurring compound mass-produced via fermentation of glucose, was reacted with ethanolamine or ethylene diamine to afford hydroxy-acid or diacid monomers containing the 2-pyrrolidone lactam. Homopolymerization or copolymerization with diols, respectively, yielded polylactam esters with higher glass transition temperatures and faster hydrolytic degradation compared to the commercial polyester polylactic acid (PLA).