Glycerol levulinate ketals and their use in the manufacture of polyurethanes, and polyurethanes formed therefrom

1. A method of making a polyurethane polymer, the method comprising:

providing one or more isocyanate compounds having two or more isocyanate groups;

providing a polyol polymer comprising i) a unit of formula (6):

wherein q is an integer and ii) two or more hydroxyl groups present on average per representative polymer molecule; and

contacting the one or more isocyanate compounds having two or more isocyanate groups with the polyol polymer under reaction conditions effective to form the polyurethane polymer, wherein the resulting polyurethane polymer comprises one or more units of formula (6) per representative polyurethane polymer molecule.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer has an average molecular weight in excess of 500 Da.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer has an average molecular weight in excess of 1000 Da.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer is a linear polymer.

5. The -linked, or star-method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer is a branched, or star-shaped polymer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer is a cross-linked polymer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol polymer is made by the method comprising

contacting a monomer of formula (3):

wherein R 3 is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl or alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkyloxyalkyl,

formula (4):

wherein R 3 is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl or alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkyloxyalkyl, and R 6 is hydrogen, or is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl or alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, or oxoalkyl,

formula (5):

formula 5(a):

or combinations thereof with a sufficient amount of a co-polymer polyhydric alcohol having two or more hydroxyl groups under reaction conditions effective to form the polyol polymer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction conditions comprise the use of a catalyst.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the catalyst is dibutyl tin dilaurate, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction conditions comprise a temperature between 30 and 160° C.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction conditions comprise substantially anhydrous conditions.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isocyanate is isophorone diisocyanate, tolylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene 1,6-diisocyanate, 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate), or combinations thereof.

13. A polyurethane polymer composition comprising a polyol polymer residue, wherein the residue comprises a unit of formula (6):

wherein q is an integer.

14. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a solid.

15. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a viscous liquid.

16. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is rigid.

17. The polyurethane polymer of claim 16 , wherein the polymer is a foam.

18. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is flexible.

19. The polyurethane polymer of claim 18 , wherein the polymer is a foam.

20. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a thermoset.

21. The polyurethane polymer of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic.

22. An article comprising a polyurethane polymer composition comprising a polyol polymer residue, wherein the residue comprises a unit of formula (6):

wherein q is an integer.

23. The article of claim 22 , further comprising at least one of an organic or inorganic filler, a pigment, a stabilizer, an anti-oxidant, a lubricant, or combinations thereof.

24. The article of claim 22 , wherein the article is a cast article.

25. The article of claim 22 , wherein the article is an extruded article.

26. The article of claim 22 , wherein the article is a shaped article.

27. An article comprising a polymer having a unit of the formula:

wherein q is an integer.