Chemically recyclable and mechanically robust non-isocyanate polyurethanes from resveratrol†

Abstract

The transition to sustainable routes boosts the growth of academic research focused on replacements for isocyanate-based polyurethanes (PUs). Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) produced by aminolysis of cyclic carbonates are treated as promising replacements for PUs. Herein, we report a novel cross-linked NIPU material prepared from resveratrol and CO₂. The rigid conjugated structure of resveratrol gives NIPUs excellent mechanical properties, with the capacity to produce robust materials with tensile stresses reaching 92 MPa. In addition, functional pre-monomers can be obtained by alcoholysis of cross-linked NIPUs, and bio-based cyclic carbonates can be regenerated by a ring-closing reaction. The regenerated bio-based cyclic carbonates remain as monomers with the same reactive efficiency, and the re-prepared NIPUs exhibit the same structures and properties. This work investigates an ecologically friendly synthetic pathway for the production of high-performance and chemically recyclable cross-linked NIPU materials using renewable resources, which will enrich the synthetic strategy and recycling of NIPU-based chemistry.