Renewable polymer and method of making

A method of polymerization, the method comprising the step of reacting trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate with a compound that comprises the structure:

• wherein, the R1, R2, and R4, are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (—H), deuterium (-D), an halogen atom (—F, —Cl, —Br, —I), a hydroxyl group (—OH), an amino group (—NH2), an alkylamino group (—NHR9), a (bisalkylamino) group [—N(R9)2], an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkoxyalkenyl group, an alkoxyalkynyl group, an haloalkyl group, an haloalkenyl group, an haloalkynyl group, an haloalkoxy group, an aryl group, an alkoxyaryl group, an haloaryl group, an alkylaryl group, an acyl group, an alkyl carbonate group, a thiol group (—SH), alkylthio (—SR9), a nitro group (—NO2), a cyano group (—C≡N), a isocyanate group (—N═C═O), a azide group (—N3), a cyanate group (—O═C═N), a nitroso group (—NO), a phosphine group [—P(R9)2], a phosphate group [—OP(O)(OR9)2], a phosphonate group [—P(O)(OR9)2], a sulfate group (—O—SO3R9), a sulfonate group (—SO3R9), a thiocyanate group (—S═C═N), a iso thiocyanate group (—N═C═S), —COR9 group, —COOR9 group, —CON(R9)2 group, —CSR9 group, —CS—OR9 group, —N(R9)2 group, —CO—O—CO—R9, —CO—NR9—CO—R9, —N═C(R9)2, and —CR9═NR9;
• wherein each R9 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl and an alkynyl group;
• and
• each R9 may be optionally substituted with one or more of the groupo consisting of halogen, hydroxy group, nitro group, cyano group, isocyano group, oxo group, thioxo group, azide group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, nitroso group, phosphine group, phosphate group, thiocyano group, and thiocyanate group.

A method of polymerization, the method comprising the step of dehydrating a monomer that comprises the chemical structure:

• the method comprising the step of using a Lewis acid catalyst to promote the dehydration of the monomer;
• wherein, the R1, R2, and R4, are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (—H), deuterium (-D), a halogen atom (—F, —Cl, —Br, —I), a hydroxyl group (—OH), an amino group (—NH2), an alkylamino group (—NHR9), a (bisalkylamino) group [—N(R9)2], an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkoxyalkenyl group, an alkoxyalkynyl group, an haloalkyl group, an haloalkenyl group, an haloalkynyl group, an haloalkoxy group, an aryl group, an alkoxyaryl group, an haloaryl group, an alkylaryl group, an acyl group, an alkyl carbonate group, a thiol group (—SH), alkylthio (—SR9), a nitro group (—NO2), a cyano group (—C≡N), a isocyanate group (—N═C═O), a azide group (—N3), a cyanate group (—O═C═N), a nitroso group (—NO), a phosphine group [—P(R9)2], a phosphate group [—OP(O)(OR9)2], a phosphonate group [—P(O)(OR9)2], a sulfate group (—O—SO3R9), a sulfonate group (—SO3R9), a thiocyanate group (—S═C═N), a iso thiocyanate group (—N═C═S), —COR9 group, —COOR9 group, —CON(R9)2 group, —CSR9 group, —CS—OR9 group, —N(R9)2 group, —CO—O—CO—R9, —CO—NR9—CO—R9, —N═C(R9)2, and —CR9═NR9;
• wherein, each R9 is independently from each other selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl and an alkynyl group;
• wherein, each R9 may be optionally substituted with one or more of the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy group, nitro group, cyano group, isocyano group, oxo group, thioxo group, azide group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, nitroso group, phosphine group, phosphate group, thiocyano group, and thiocyanate group;
• wherein the Lewis acid is a salt of an element selected from the group consisting of Fe(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), In(III), Pb(II), Sc(III), Y(III), Ln(III)), B(III), Si(IV), P(III), P(IV), Ti(IV), V(III), Ge(IV), Zr(IV), Nb(V), Mo(V), Sn(IV), Sb(V), Hf(IV), Ta(V), W(VI), Re(V), Tl(III) Li(I), Na(I), Mg(II), AI(III), K(I), Ca(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Ga(III), Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II), Ag(I), Ba(II), Os(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Au(I), Hg(II), and Bi(III);
• and
• wherein the Lewis acid catalyst is used in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 0.2 equivalents by mole with respect to the monomer.