ABSTRACT The depletion of fossil resources and environmental crises urgently require the development of sustainable alternative solutions. Isosorbide (one of the 12 bio‐based platform chemicals with the greatest industrialization potential certified by the International Energy Agency) has become a key molecular carrier in the field of green materials due to its rigid bicyclic skeleton and dihydroxyl active sites. This review systematically analyzes and synthesizes the innovative progress made by isosorbide over the past five years in the fields of monomer preparation, green solvents, polymerization reactions of bio‐based monomers, functional materials, synthetic drugs, surfactants, new organic catalysts, flame retardants and crosslinking agent development. Notable findings include the achievement of over 83% isosorbide yield, the synthesis of polycarbonates with glass transition temperatures above 161°C, and the development of isosorbide‐derived polymers exhibiting enhanced barrier properties and biodegradability. It aims to provide theoretical support for the breakthrough of bottlenecks in the research, development, and industrialization of isosorbide, thereby promoting the advancement of sustainable chemical systems.
Zhang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.