Smoking Articles Containing Polymers of Polycarboxylic Acid Esters

Abstract

Disclosed is a smoking article containing a rod containing a smokable composition, an optional wrapper for the rod, and at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or in the rod, the wrapper, or both. The polycarboxylic acid ester contains an acid moiety having at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol. The cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both. In addition, a method for the controlled release of these flavorant or chemesthetic agents is described, which comprises pyrolyzing at least one polymer or oligomer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A comestible comprising: a copolymer comprising at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or in a comestible product; wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester comprises an acid moiety comprising at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties, which may be the same or different, and are independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol, and wherein said cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both. 
     
     
         2 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the monomer units comprise dicarboxylic acid diesters. 
     
     
         3 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol comprise one or more of menthol, thymol, or eugenol. 
     
     
         4 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein (c) the acid moiety comprises one or more selected from 1-carboxy-1-carboxymethylethylene, or 1,2-dicarboxyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of at least one of dimenthyl itaconate, dimenthyl maleate, or dimenthyl fumarate. 
     
     
         6 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of dimenthyl itaconate; (f) the at least one polymer or oligomer further comprises one or more monomer units different from said monomer units of said polycarboxylic acid ester, and resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of one or more co-monomers. 
     
     
         7 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more co-monomers comprises an unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester wherein the unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester comprises one or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, or methyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         8 . The comestible of  claim 1 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol are linked to a polymeric backbone through a non-carbonate linking group. 
     
     
         9 . A heatable or combustible product comprising at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or a product to be heated or combusted; wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester comprises an acid moiety comprising at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties, which may be the same or different, and are independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol, and wherein said cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the monomer units comprise dicarboxylic acid diesters. 
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol comprise one or more of menthol, thymol, or eugenol. 
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the acid moiety comprises one or more selected from 1-carboxy-1-carboxymethylethylene, or 1,2-dicarboxyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of at least one of dimenthyl itaconate, dimenthyl maleate, or dimenthyl fumarate. 
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of dimenthyl itaconate. 
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one polymer or oligomer further comprises one or more monomer units different from said monomer units of said polycarboxylic acid ester, and resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of one or more co-monomers. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more co-monomers comprises an unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester wherein the unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester comprises one or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, or methyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol are linked to a polymeric backbone through a non-carbonate linking group. 
     
     
         18 . A smokeless tobacco composition, comprising:
 (a) tobacco and/or tobacco substitute;   (b) at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or in tobacco and/or tobacco substitute, or both; wherein said polycarboxylic acid ester comprises an acid moiety comprising at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties, which may be the same or different, and are independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol, and wherein said cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both.   
     
     
         19 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the monomer units comprise dicarboxylic acid diesters. 
     
     
         20 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol comprise one or more of menthol, thymol, or eugenol. 
     
     
         21 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the acid moiety comprises one or more selected from 1-carboxy-1-carboxymethylethylene, or 1,2-dicarboxyethylene. 
     
     
         22 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of at least one of dimenthyl itaconate, dimenthyl maleate, or dimenthyl fumarate. 
     
     
         23 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the monomer units comprise those resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of dimenthyl itaconate. 
     
     
         24 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one polymer or oligomer further comprises one or more monomer units different from said monomer units of said polycarboxylic acid ester, and resulting from free radical polymerization or oligomerization of one or more co-monomers. 
     
     
         25 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more co-monomers comprises an unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester wherein the unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester comprises one or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, or methyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         26 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 18 , wherein the cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol are linked to a polymeric backbone through a non-carbonate linking group.