Bio-Based Aromatic Polyesters Reversibly Crosslinked via the Diels–Alder Reaction
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The ms is on the reaction of diphenolic acid with furfurylamine (A) (1), on the preparation of an aromatic polyester by the reaction of A with terephtaloyl chloride (2), and on the crosslinking (3).
- Introduction: the sentence „The only difference with BPA is the presence of an extra carboxylic acid” makes no sence. Insert „moiety” at the end. A little bit lower: the phrase „ to provide... Diels- Alder active moiety” is somewhat awkward.
- Scheme 1/caption: replace „polymerization” by „polycondensation”. Beside this, adipoyl chloride is the wrong name for the bis(acid chloride), terephtaloyl chlorides.
- p4, l. 174: the yield should be given to round whole number (51.1% -> 51%).
- The main problem is the following. This referee does not consider that the reversibility of the Diels-Alder reaction was proved. Simply, at 150 °C, the cycloadduct is decomposed. But surely not the starting components will be recovered. On the other hand, the NMR signals at 5.18 and 5.3 ppm (used in the argument) are rather week to base a theory on them. So the reversibility theory should be refined. Reversibility and a retro-D-A. reaction are two different issues! Au-s should address this worry, and refined/revise the text and the scheme.
In summary, the ms will be suitable for „Applied Sciences” after a major revision.
Author Response
please see attached file
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments for the Authors
In this manuscript, the authors Francesco Picchioni reported "Synthesis of Bio-based aromatic polyesters reversibly crosslinked via Diels-Alder reaction"
1) The bio-based polymer was synthesized from Diphenolic acid coupled with furfuryl amine and sunsequently condensed with Terephthaloyl chloride.
2) The obtained polymer was Crosslinked via Diels Alder reaction using bismaleimide
3) The beauty of the paper is showing proof-of-principle for reversibility and recyclability.
4) This manuscript is well written and easy to follow
I recommend this manuscript to accepted for publication in Applied Sciences.
Author Response
please see attached file
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The revisions are OK, and the explanation as well.
