Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate Methacrylate and Its Copolymerization with AESO

Abstract

Glycerol carbonate methacrylate (GCMA) is a multifunctional monomer that integrates the reactivity of both cyclic carbonate and methacrylate groups, making it a promising precursor for the development of advanced polymeric materials. In this study, GCMA was synthesized through a two-step process: first, glycerol was converted into glycerol carbonate via transcarbonation with dimethyl carbonate under mild, solvent-free conditions using calcium oxide as a catalyst. Subsequently, the hydroxyl group of glycerol carbonate was functionalized with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of Amberlite IRC120H, yielding GCMA. The structure and purity of the synthesized monomer were confirmed by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. To obtain a fully biobased polymeric material, GCMA was copolymerized with acrylate epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) at 1:1 and 2:1 molar ratio via free radical polymerization at 140 °C, without the use of any initiator. The resulting copolymers exhibit potential for sustainable applications due to their renewable origin and tunable thermal and mechanical properties.