Polyurethane research for applications in the field of dentistry: Limiting side reactions in monomer development and synthesizing N-capped polymenthide

Modern dentistry has found uses for polyurethanes in both dental arch models and removable dental appliances. In an attempt to make polyurethanes from renewable resources, both naturally derived menthone and dihydrocarvone were oxidized in order to form menthide and dihydrocarvide, respectively. The resulting ester, if copolymerized could be modified to form a polyuria; however, dihydrocarvide synthesis was complicated by epoxidation. Different reaction environments with varying salts showed no positive effect on limiting epoxide products. A homopolymerization of menthide resulted in a polymenthide chain that was reacted in the presence of N,N\u27-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) in order to form an N-capped polymenthide chain. This N-capped polymenthide can then be reacted with diisocyanate in order to form a PU