Unique Fully Aliphatic or Aliphatic/Aromatic Copolyesters Containing Biobased omega-Hydroxy Fatty Acids: Molecular Structures and Properties

The development of biobased polymers that bring unique properties desired by consumers at acceptable prices is a major challenge and opportunity. Recently, Gross and collaborators reported the development of an engineered Candida tropicalis strain capable of producing commercially viable yields of ω-hydroxyfatty acids. This required the identification and elimination of 16 genes from the diploid yeast Candida tropicalis genome. After reintegration of a P450 and process optimization, volumetric yields higher than 150 g/L of 14-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (14HA) was produced using methyl myristate as substrate.1 In this work, 14HA was used in two-step polycondensations to obtain novel copolyesters with 1,4-cyclohexylene units or terephthalate moieties along chains. The introduction of aliphatic or aromatic rings into the main chain aims at improving thermal and mechanical performances.