Leucaena Oil Functionalized With Osmium Tetroxide as a Precursor for Polyol‐Based Polyurethane

ABSTRACT The widespread use of polyurethane (PU) in insulation, packaging, and furniture remains heavily dependent on petrochemical polyols, raising sustainability concerns. Renewable, biodegradable, and high‐performance bio‐based polyols therefore remain a strategic research focus. Here, Leucaena leucocephala seed oil (a nonedible, fast‐growing tropical biomass) is extracted by Soxhlet and functionalized via osmylation to produce a hydroxylated polyol suitable for polyurethane synthesis. An osmium tetroxide–pyridine system enables syn‐addition of vicinal diols to unsaturated fatty‐acid chains, increasing hydroxyl functionality Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry e thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric analysis data support hydroxylation while indicating preservation of the triglyceride backbone. The resulting polyol shows a hydroxyl number of 160–175 mg KOH g −1 , increased viscosity, and higher acidity than the crude oil, consistent with OH incorporation. Thermal analysis reveals two main degradation events ( T max ≈ 391°C–397°C), with residues below 5%. Flexible, open‐cell PUs are produced via the one‐shot method using triethanolamine and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane catalysts, showing C/O/N signals and predominantly amorphous X‐ray diffraction profiles. Overall, Leucaena oil emerges as a renewable feedstock for polyol and polyurethane production, supporting reduced petrochemical dependence through biomass valorization.