From monomer synthesis to polymers with pendant aldehyde groups

Chemistry in general, but polymer chemistry in particular has to face the major challenge of finding solutions to ensure a sustainable and environmental-benign development of industry to answer consumer needs. Aldehydes are very important chemical groups for polymer science of the synthesis of phenolic resins for example, however, most molecular aldehydes (such as formaldehyde) are toxic. Finding less toxic and sustainable aldehydes is not easy because this functional group is relatively scarce in nature. In consequence aldehydes-containing building blocks must be synthesized. The present review gives an overview of the different synthetic methods to prepare such aldehyde building blocks. It then focusses on the use of radically polymerizable aldehyde-containing monomers to prepare polymers and materials featuring available aldehyde pendent group. Indeed, owing to the rich reactivity and properties of aldehydes, such functional polymers will undoubtedly lead to the development of high-added value applications. This review also gives a brief overview of such potential applications. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd