Synthesis of sustainable sulfur-containing polycarbonates from xylose and carbonyl sulfide

Herein, the six-membered sulfur-containing cyclic carbonates was successfully synthesized from d- and l-xylose through an environmental friendly process by employing carbonyl sulfide (COS) as a sustainable C1-carbonation agent. The ring-opening polymerization of the monomers were rapidly initiated by bifunctional organocatalysts and alkali metal alkoxides, respectively, under ambient reaction conditions. The resultant sulfur-containing polycarbonates exhibit high-temperature resistance and good optical properties. This work furnishes an original and practical strategy for utilizing COS as a sulfur feedstock in biopolymer synthesis.