Serinol derivatives for the sustainable vulcanization of diene elastomers

2-amino-1,3-propandiol (serinol) was used as the starting building block of synthetic pathways that led to the preparation of innovative chemicals suitable as ingredients for rubber compounds. Serinol based reactions were performed in the frame of a sustainable process, in the absence of any solvent and catalyst, with aldehydes and ketones, such as acetone, cinnamaldehyde and camphor. The synthesis of either imines or oxazolidines was obtained with high selectivity. Serinol, imine and oxazolidine derivatives of serinol were used as accelerator for the vulcanization of diene rubbers. They were proved to be efficient secondary accelerators in silica based compounds based on poly(styrene-co-butadiene) in place of diphenyl guanidine. The kinetics of vulcanization was investigated for natural rubber based compounds in the absence of any filler. With respect to serinol, the imine derivatives were able to enhance the induction time of vulcanization and to afford a similar vulcanization rate.