Synthesis of corn-derived carbohydrate derivatives as effective multifunctional sunscreens

A range of novel biomass-derived sunscreens and additives were synthesized by substituting corn-produced isosorbide with different functional moieties, such as naturally-occurring cinnamic acids. Based on the different reactivity of the two isosorbide hydroxyl groups, an effective synthetic route was developed for making multifunctional molecules such as UV-absorbing polymer plasticizers and antioxidants. Isosorbide-derived UVB/UVA sunscreens and other additives were characterized by NMR, FTIR and UV spectra. A UV photostability test showed that such sunscreens not only have a high molar extinction coefficient but also a high photostability, the combination covering both UVB and UVA regions. By following this scheme, other medically-useful bio-molecules can be synthesized in the future, such as a full spectrum UV absorber and a UV-absorbing antioxidant, to name a few.