Multimax

The syntheses were carried out in the Mettler Toledo MultiMax reactor system. The reactions were carried out in 50 mL Hastlelloy reactors. The substrates, glycerol (≥99%, Sigma Aldrich, Burlington, MA, USA) and itaconic anhydride (99%, Ambeed, Arlington Heights, IL, USA), were used without prior preparation. The reaction was performed under solvent-free conditions and without any catalyst. The substrates were weighed to the reactor in amounts depending on the molar ratio of the functional groups. The weight of the reagents used in the syntheses was 30 g.
The reactors were provided with temperature sensors, mechanical stirrers and Dean–Stark instruments. In the first stage of the reaction, the mixture was heated for 20 min to a temperature of 140 °C. This temperature was kept constant for 5 h. After the reaction was finished, the mixture was cooled to room temperature. The parameters of the obtained products (the degree of esterification of ED_NMR and ED_tit, and the degree of conversion of itaconic anhydride %X_13C^NMR) were described in a previous article about the synthesis of PGItc [49 ].
Table 2 summarizes the amounts of reactants used in the syntheses of PGItc that were performed.

Poly(1,4-butanediol citrate) was synthesised in a Mettler Toledo MultiMax parallel reactors system. Hastelloy reactors with a working capacity of 50 mL with a Teflon cover equipped with a mechanical stirrer, temperature sensor and DeanStark apparatus were used. The reaction mixture was heated for 10 min to the set temperature, which was then held constant for 40 min. After the reaction, the product was allowed to cool down to room temperature.

PGItc syntheses were carried out in a Mettler Toledo MultiMax parallel reactors system in Hastelloy reactors. Glycerol (≥99%, Sigma Aldrich, Burlington, MA, USA), and itaconic anhydride (99%, Ambeed, Arlington Heights, IL, USA) were used without prior preparation (Figure 13). Glycerol (10.62 g, 0.115 mol; 13.53 g, 0.147 mol; 6.45 g 0.070 mol) and itaconic anhydride (19.38 g, 0.173 mol; 16.47 g 0.147 mol; 23.55 g 0.210 mol) were weighed into the reactor in amounts depending on the molar ratio of the functional groups. Each time, the sum of the reactants was 30.00 g.
Reactors were equipped with a mechanical stirrer, temperature sensor, and Dean-Stark apparatus. In the first stage, the mixture was heated for over 20 min to temperature x₂. The temperature was held constant for x₃ hours. After the reaction, the mixture was cooled down to room temperature.