An Excellent Biobased Copolymerization Monomer Module: Synthesis of Biobased Copolymers with Excellent Heat Resistance and Hydrophilic Properties

Xiao-Jun Ma; Xiao-Qing Hao; Hong-Ji Wang; Han-Yu Yao; Zi-Qing Wang; Yin Lv

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3433-4

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An Excellent Biobased Copolymerization Monomer Module: Synthesis of Biobased Copolymers with Excellent Heat Resistance and Hydrophilic Properties

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-10-30

- An Excellent Biobased Copolymerization Monomer Module: Synthesis of Biobased Copolymers with Excellent Heat Resistance and Hydrophilic Properties
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 11, Pages: 2102-2109(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
- Author bio：
  
  ag_125@163.com or Lvyin125@shzu.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3433-4
  CLC：
- Received：13 July 2025，
  
  Accepted：11 August 2025，
  
  Online First：16 October 2025，
  
  Published：05 November 2025
- Accepted：
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Ma, X. J.; Hao, X. Q.; Wang, H. J.; Yao, H. Y.; Wang, Z. Q.; Lv, Y. An excellent biobased copolymerization monomer module: synthesis of biobased copolymers with excellent heat resistance and hydrophilic properties. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2102–2109

Xiao-Jun Ma, Xiao-Qing Hao, Hong-Ji Wang, et al. An Excellent Biobased Copolymerization Monomer Module: Synthesis of Biobased Copolymers with Excellent Heat Resistance and Hydrophilic Properties[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(11): 2102-2109.
Ma, X. J.; Hao, X. Q.; Wang, H. J.; Yao, H. Y.; Wang, Z. Q.; Lv, Y. An excellent biobased copolymerization monomer module: synthesis of biobased copolymers with excellent heat resistance and hydrophilic properties. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2102–2109 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3433-4.

Xiao-Jun Ma, Xiao-Qing Hao, Hong-Ji Wang, et al. An Excellent Biobased Copolymerization Monomer Module: Synthesis of Biobased Copolymers with Excellent Heat Resistance and Hydrophilic Properties[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(11): 2102-2109. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3433-4.

摘要

Incorporation of CBPC units markedly enhances PBCC copolymers’ thermal stability (Tm 225.8 °C

Td₅% 306.7 °C) and imparts excellent hydrophilicity

enabling a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition. This work proposes a new strategy for designing high-performance bio-based polyesters

reducing reliance on finite fossil resources.

Abstract

The use of biomass feedstocks for the manufacture of high-performance polymers can help expand their range of applications and reduce their dependence on finite fossil resources. However

improving the heat resistance and hydrophilicity of bio-based polyesters remains a significant challenge. Herein

we introduce

trans

-1

4-cyclohexane-bis(pyrrolidone-4-methylcarboxylate) (CBPC)

a novel bio-based tricyclic dibasic ester synthesized from renewable dimethyl itaconic acid and

trans

-1

4-cyclohexane diamine

via

an aza-Michael addit

ion reaction. As a unique comonomer

CBPC features a rigid tricyclic backbone that significantly enhances chain packing and thermal stability

whereas its pyrrolidone side groups impart tunable polarity and improved hydrophilicity. Using CBPC

diphenyl carbonate

and 1

4-butylene glycol

a series of PBCC copolymers with 10 mol%–30 mol% CBPC was synthesized

via

ester-exchange and melt polycondensation methods. Incorporation of CBPC raised the melting temperature (

) from 56.8 °C to 225.8 °C and the initial decomposition temperature (

d5%

) from 258.0 °C to 306.7 °C

positioning PBCC among the most heat-resistant bio-based polyesters reported. Additionally

the pyrrolidone units enabled transformation from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. This study demonstrates that CBPC is an effective and innovative building block for the design of bio-based polymers with enhanced thermal and surface properties

offering a promising strategy for the development of high-performance sustainable materials.

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