In this thesis, high oleic soybean oil and lignin derived monomers and polymers are investigated. The properties of these monomers and polymers are characterized and discussed.

Chapter 1details the potential impact of bio-based resources, monomers, and polymers on the environment. An introduction on polymerization techniques is given, and the overall objectives of my research are discussed.

In Chapter 2, attempts are made at modifying our group's soybean oil derived thermoplastic polymer into a vitrimer. The synthesis of the thermoplastic is reviewed and the vitrimer trials outlined. The complications that arose are examined and discussed.

Chapter 3 outlines the preparation of a supramolecular polymer based on a cationic lignin filler as well as a lignin derived polydiene. The reaction procedures and characterizations of the monomers and polymers are discussed. Higher percentages of acrylic acid in the long chain counterpart showed better potential for solvent film casting. Although hot pressed films were more successful at integrating the filler, they were too brittle to test for mechanical properties. The difficulties of using organosolv lignin led to the use a decomposition product as a monomer source. The synthesized polydiene was able to undergo ADMET polymerization and the resulting polymer showed promise as a renewable alternative.

Chapter 4 concludes with a summary of this work and suggestions for future research directions.