Nature can provide a variety of building blocks for the synthesis of sustainable and functional polymers, whose utilization is a key issue in modern polymer chemistry. This natural pool of compounds is interesting in terms of alternative feedstock and green chemistry in general, and especially with regards to significant molecules and structures, that can thus be utilized for the preparation of advanced materials and that are not so easily accessible via fossil-based pathways.[1,2] In this context, terpenes are very versatile and suitable building blocks for the synthesis of sustainable polymers, due to their abundance, low costs and in terms of their interesting structures comprising e.g. side groups, stereocenters and/or additional functionalities.[3]
Polyamides (PAs) are very important polymers for applications in many fields (commodities, automotive, biomedicine, …), and their impact is growing. They are mainly synthesized via polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids and diamines or via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactams. In this context, we investigate the transformation of cyclic terpenes to polyamides via their lactams.[4] This procedure works thus in analogy to the established fossil-based synthesis of polyamide 6 (polycaprolactam, nylon 6, Perlon®) and leads to novel sustainable polyamides with side groups and stereocenters, which have a very important impact on the properties of the resulting polymers. In this context, we investigate strategies for the utilization of suchlike polyamides, their copolymers and blends (e.g. with polyethylene glycol (PEG)), and bioconjugates as biomaterials for the interactions with living cells.[5] The properties of these components are thus combined, which results in enhanced features.[6]

[1] M. Winnacker, B. Rieger, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2016, 37, 1391-1413.
[2] M. Eissen, J. O. Metzger, E. Schmidt, U. Schneidewind, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2002, 41, 414-436.
[3] M. Winnacker, B. Rieger, ChemSusChem 2015, 8, 2455-2471.
[4] a) M. Winnacker, J. Sag, Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 841-844; b) M. Winnacker, M. Neumeier, X. Zhang, C. Papadakis, B. Rieger, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2016, 37, 851-857, and related references.
[5] J.-F. Lutz, H. G. Börner, Prog. Polym. Sci. 2008, 33, 1-39.
[6] M. Winnacker, A. J. G. Beringer, T. F. Gronauer, H. H. Güngör, L. Reinschlüssel, B. Rieger, S. A. Sieber, Macromol. Rapid Commun.  2019, 40 (12), 1900091.