Radical polymerization and preliminary microbiological investigation of new polymer derived from myrtenol

A new methacrylic monomer derived from myrtenol, an essential oil possessing biocidal properties extracted from Myrtus communis L., was prepared in one step and named myrtenyl methacrylate. Conventional radical polymerization was performed in solution with 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) as thermal initiator in the temperature range 60–80 °C. Influences of reaction time, temperature and initiator concentration on monomer conversion and molar masses were studied. Controlled radical polymerization experiments were performed using the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization techniques, leading to the formation of polymers with controlled molar masses and narrow molar mass distribution. Microbiological tests of these (macro)molecules were carried out using planktonic and adhesion tests with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in order to evaluate their antibacterial properties.

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► Myrtenol is obtained from Myrtus communis essential oil and has antibacterial and antifungal activities.
► New monomer and polymers are obtained from myrtenol using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.
► Poly(myrtenyl methacrylate) films present an anti-adhesive effect against Bacillus subtilis.