Preparation of Furan Dimer-based Biopolyester Showing High Melting Points

Furan dimer diester was obtained by reductive or oxidative homocoupling of furan carboxylate derivatives in the presence of a nickel or palladium catalyst. Treatment of the obtained diester with 1,ω-diol in the presence of titanium alkoxide as a catalyst leads to the corresponding polyester in excellent yields. The obtained polymers show remarkably high melting points compared with the related polyesters composed of a single furan ring derived from furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Thermal properties of the furan dimer-derived polyesters are comparable with those of terephthalate polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate).