Macrobisphenols are a family of bio-inspired bisphenols introduced in 2013, composed of two p-hydroxycinnamate units linked through ester bonds via a polyol scaffold. Unlike bisphenol A, macrobisphenols are non-endocrine-disrupting compounds, and display outstanding antiradical activity, making them attractive, safer alternatives for polymer-related applications. Their versatility enables use as plasticizers, antioxidants, and monomers for polymer and materials synthesis. Over the past 12 years, substantial progress has been made to enhance their industrial viability by expanding structural diversity through extensive libraries of analogs, significantly lowering production costs, and minimizing environmental impact through greener synthetic strategies. This article critically reviews the evolution of macrobisphenol synthesis, highlights recent advances in sustainable and scalable pathways, and provides practical guidelines for selecting the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible processes according to the targeted structure.
Flourat et al. (Fri,) studied this question.