Isosorbide-based polymethacrylates

1. A monomer comprising the structure

wherein R 1 comprises H or a substituted hydrocarbyl or an unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbyl, and wherein R 2 comprises H, a halide, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl.

2. The monomer of claim 1 , wherein R 1 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

3. The monomer of claim 1 , wherein R 2 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

4. The monomer of claim 1 , wherein the monomer is an acetylated methacrylic isosorbide having the structure

5. A polymer or a copolymer comprising, as a repeating unit, the structure

wherein R 1 comprises H or a substituted hydrocarbyl, and wherein R 2 comprises H, a halide, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl.

6. The polymer or copolymer of claim 5 , wherein R 1 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

7. The polymer or copolymer of claim 5 , wherein R 2 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

8. A method comprising:

(a) reacting a dianhydrohexitol precursor having the structure

with an acyl-group containing compound having the structure

wherein R 1 comprises H or a substituted hydrocarbyl or an unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbyl, and X comprises a halide, a hydroxyl group, or an acyl group to form an acylated dianhydrohexitol ester intermediate having the structure

 and

(b) reacting the acylated dianhydrohexitol ester intermediate with an acrylic-based compound having the structure

wherein R 2 comprises H, a halide, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, and Y comprises a halide, a hydroxyl group, or an acyl group, to form a dianhydrohexitol-based monomer having the structure

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein R 1 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein R 2 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer comprises an acetylated methacrylic isosorbide having the structure

12. A method comprising:

(a) reacting a dianhydrohexitol precursor having the structure

with an acrylic-based compound having the structure

wherein R 2 comprises H, a halide, or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, and Y comprises a halide, a hydroxyl group, or an acyl group to form an acrylic-based dianhydrohexitol ester intermediate having the structure

 and

(b) reacting the acrylic-based dianhydrohexitol ester intermediate with an acyl-group containing compound having the structure

wherein R 1 comprises H or a substituted hydrocarbyl or an unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbyl, and X comprises a halide, a hydroxyl group, or an acyl group, to form a dianhydrohexitol-based monomer having the structure

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein R 1 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein R 2 comprises H or a methyl group (CH 3 ).

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer comprises an acetylated methacrylic isosorbide having the structure

16. The method as in either one of claims 8 or 12 , further comprising (c) polymerizing the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer to form a polymer or copolymer comprising, as a repeating unit, the structure

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein polymerizing the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer comprises one of:

linear chain growth polymerization of the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer;

free-radical polymerization of the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer; or

controlled block polymerization.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein polymerizing the dianhydrohexitol-based monomer comprises reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer with a chain-transfer agent to form a chain-transfer polymer.