A new crosslinkable polyphenol from a renewable resource

Communication: Cardanol, a major component obtained by thermal treatment of cashew nut shell liquid, is a phenol derivative mainly having a C15 unsatu rated hydrocarbon chain with 1-3 double bonds at the m-position. We polymer ized cardanol using an Fe-salen complex as the catalyst to give a soluble p olyphenol containing the unsaturated alkyl group in the side chain. The pol ymer was subjected to hardening by a cobalt naphthenate catalyst or thermal treatment, yielding crosslinked film with high gloss surface.