Enzymatic synthesis of lignin derivable pyridine based polyesters for the substitution of petroleum derived plastics

Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 16;10(1):1762. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09817-3.

Abstract

Following concerns over increasing global plastic pollution, interest in the production and characterization of bio-based and biodegradable alternatives is rising. In the present work, the synthesis of a series of fully bio-based alternatives based on 2,4-, 2,5-, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid-derived polymers produced via enzymatic catalysis are reported. A similar series of aromatic-aliphatic polyesters based on diethyl-2,5-furandicarboxylate and of the petroleum-based diethyl terephthalate and diethyl isophthalate were also synthesized. Here we show that the enzymatic synthesis starting from 2,4-diethyl pyridinedicarboxylate leads to the best polymers in terms of molecular weights (Mn = 14.3 and Mw of 32.1 kDa when combined with 1,8-octanediol) when polymerized in diphenyl ether. Polymerization in solventless conditions were also successful leading to the synthesis of bio-based oligoesters that can be further functionalized. DSC analysis show a clear similarity in the thermal behavior between 2,4-diethyl pyridinedicarboxylate and diethyl isophthalate (amorphous polymers) and between 2,5-diethyl pyridinedicarboxylate and diethyl terephthalate (crystalline polymers).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Catalysis
  • Lignin / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Petroleum*
  • Plastics / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Pyridines / chemistry*
  • Solvents
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Thermogravimetry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Petroleum
  • Plastics
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Pyridines
  • Solvents
  • Lignin
  • pyridine