We report the rapid, one-pot synthesis of functional polycarbonates derived from renewable alcohols (i.e., glucose tetraacetate, acetyl isosorbide, lauryl alcohol, and ethanol) and a cyclic carbonate bearing an imidazolecarboxylate. This tandem functionalization/ring-opening polymerization strategy can be performed on multigram scale and eliminates the need for rigorous purification and specialized equipment. A wide range of glass transition temperatures (T g) was accessible from these renewable pendant groups (>75 °C T g window). We also synthesized several statistical copolycarbonates to show the thermal properties can be tailored with this tandem method. Additionally, we demonstrate a circular polymer economy via chemical recycling to a cyclic carbonate precursor. This work may facilitate development of sustainable polycarbonates with tailored properties that work toward eliminating plastic waste streams.

We demonstrate computational insight and radical ring opening polymerization of a fungi-derived thionolactone, thionoisochromanone (TIC), to create homo-, block-, and statistical copolymers under entirely free radical conditions.

Correction for ‘Radical ring-opening polymerization of sustainably-derived thionoisochromanone’ by Emily A. Prebihalo et al., Chem. Sci., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc06040j.