0000000000214344
AUTHOR
Oliver M. Türk
Sustainable access to biobased biphenol epoxy resins by electrochemical dehydrogenative dimerization of eugenol
Limited fossil resources require innovative monomers and polymers derived from renewable feedstocks such as plant biomass. Thermosetting epoxy resins largely rely on petrochemical bisphenol-type monomers, which give high performance materials but are controversial due to their effects on human health. Herein, we present two biobased epoxy resins by direct dehydrogenative dimerization of eugenol, the main component of clove oil. Taking the Principles of Green Chemistry into account, we developed electrochemical dehydrodimerization at reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes using methanol as environmentally benign solvent. Thus, fluorinated solvents such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropa…
Biobased Epoxy Resin by Electrochemical Modification of Tall Oil Fatty Acids
A biobased epoxy resin was prepared from tall oil fatty acids (TOFAs), a byproduct of the pulping industry. As free carboxylic acids compromise resin stability, TOFA was subjected to non-Kolbe decarboxylation to give alkenes upon loss of CO2. Thereby, the degree of unsaturation is significantly increased. This electrosynthetic protocol using an undivided cell setup and inexpensive graphite electrodes in a galvanostatic operation mode was scaled to a 1.5 L reactor, making use of electric current as a green and waste-free reagent. Simple, cost-efficient epoxidation using oxone subsequently gives an epoxy resin of low viscosity. Curing with anhydrides yields thermoset materials. Dynamic mechan…