Microwave-assisted cationic ring-opening polymerization of a soy-based 2-oxazoline monomer

The microwave-assisted cationic ring-opening polymn. of a soy based 2-oxazoline monomer (SoyOx) is described. The microwave irradn. provides more efficient heating when compared to conventional heating and, in addn., the SoyOx was prepd. starting from a sustainable resource (soy beans). The microwave polymn. of SoyOx was completed within 15 min when it was heated to 140-C in acetonitrile utilizing Me tosylate as initiator. During the microwave polymn., the living character of the polymn. was retained. Furthermore, the SoyOx microwave polymn. was successfully performed in the absence of volatile org. solvents. This bulk polymn. resulted in a well-defined pSoyOx as well. In conclusion, the microwave-irradn. provides a green alternative to conventional heating for the cationic ring-opening polymn. of 2-oxazolines.