The disclosure provides, inter alia, safe and environmentally-friendly methods, such as flow chemistry, to synthesize isocyanates, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.

The disclosure provides, inter alia, safe and environmentally-friendly methods, such as flow chemistry, to synthesize isocyanates, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.

The disclosure provides, inter alia, safe and environmentally-friendly methods, such as flow chemistry, to synthesize isocyanates, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.

The present invention provides bio-based aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I). [Formula should be inserted here] wherein X is OCH.sub.3, Y is selected from —H or OCH.sub.3, and m=0-12. The present invention further provides a method for preparation of aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I) useful for preparation of polyurethane.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides bio-based aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I). [Formula should be inserted here] wherein X is OCH.sub.3, Y is selected from —H or OCH.sub.3, and m=0-12. The present invention further provides a method for preparation of aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I) useful for preparation of polyurethane.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides bio-based aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I). [Formula should be inserted here] wherein X is OCH.sub.3, Y is selected from —H or OCH.sub.3, and m=0-12. The present invention further provides a method for preparation of aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I) useful for preparation of polyurethane.

##STR00001##

Biobased diisocyanates are bio-derived derived from biomass natural sources that include rosin acids. The biobased diisocyanates are of the formula 1, 2 or 3: ##STR00001##
where: R is an alkylene of from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, and R′ is an alkyl group of from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms.

Biobased diisocyanates are bio-derived derived from biomass natural sources that include rosin acids. The biobased diisocyanates are of the formula 1, 2 or 3: ##STR00001##
where: R is an alkylene of from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, and R′ is an alkyl group of from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms.

The present invention is directed to processes for producing isocyanates and isocyanate derivatives from epoxide and carbon monoxide reagents. In preferred embodiments, the processes include a step for providing carbonylation of an epoxide reagent with a carbon monoxide reagent to produce a beta-lactone intermediate. In certain preferred embodiments, further carbonylation of a beta-lactone intermediate produces a succinic anhydride intermediate. The processes of the present invention include steps for rearranging beta-lactone intermediates and/or succinic anhydride intermediates to produce isocyanate products and/or isocyanate derivatives. In certain preferred embodiments, the isocyanate products may be copolymerized with polyol oligomers to provide polyurethane products.

The present invention is directed to processes for producing isocyanates and isocyanate derivatives from epoxide and carbon monoxide reagents. In preferred embodiments, the processes include a step for providing carbonylation of an epoxide reagent with a carbon monoxide reagent to produce a beta-lactone intermediate. In certain preferred embodiments, further carbonylation of a beta-lactone intermediate produces a succinic anhydride intermediate. The processes of the present invention include steps for rearranging beta-lactone intermediates and/or succinic anhydride intermediates to produce isocyanate products and/or isocyanate derivatives. In certain preferred embodiments, the isocyanate products may be copolymerized with polyol oligomers to provide polyurethane products.