Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 30, 2024
α-Methylene-δ-valerolactone
(MVL)
as
a
bio-renewable
bifunctional
monomer
has
shown
great
promise
to
prepare
closed-loop
recyclable
polyester
with
pendent
functionalizable
double
bond.
However,
the
chemoselective
ring-opening
polymerization
(ROP)
of
MVL
still
faces
challenges
including
low
temperature,
expensive
catalyst
well
high
loading.
In
this
contribution,
we
present
and
controlled
ROP
using
simple
organoaluminum
complex
[MeAl(BHT)
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 27, 2025
While
synthesizing
circular
polymers
with
telechelic
polyolefin
building
blocks
recently
emerged
as
a
promising
strategy
for
addressing
conventional
polyethylenes'
sustainability
challenges,
the
lack
of
iPP
(tPP)
sufficient
difunctional
purity
polycondensation
has
been
limiting
development
polypropylenes
iPP-like
structures
and
properties.
Here
we
described
combined
approach
coordinative
chain
transfer
polymerization
transition-metal-catalyzed
quenching
reaction
various
acyl
chlorides,
affording
tPPs
high
ratio
(up
to
∼99%)
broad
end
functional
group
scope.
The
steric
effect
polymeryl-Zn
species
role
Pd
catalyst
were
revealed
by
DFT.
This
method
also
solved
low
challenge
polyethylenes.
Ester-linked
iPPs
structure
thermomechanical
properties
PE/iPP
multiblock
copolymers
synthesized
resulting
tPPs.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 27, 2025
Enthalpy
is
often
the
focal
point
when
designing
monomers
for
polymer
circularity,
but
much
less
explored
on
how
entropy
can
be
exploited
to
create
polymers
with
synergistic
circularity
and
properties.
Here,
we
design
a
series
of
spiro-lactones
(SLs)
closed-chain
cycloalk(en)yl
substituents
at
α,α-position
δ-valerolactone
(δVL),
which,
combined
parent
δVL
gem-α,α-dialkyl-substituted
open-chain
alkyl
groups,
provide
desired
platform
exploring
circular
by
focusing
change
polymerization.
These
SLs
exhibit
finely
balanced
(de)polymerizability
that
regulated
chiefly
differentiation,
allowing
both
facile
synthesis
polyester
PSLs
(Mn
up
1000
kg
mol–1)
in
living
fashion
selective
depolymerization
completely
recover
under
mild
conditions
(using
recyclable
catalyst
100
°C).
One
such
PSL
semicrystalline
(Tm
=
134
°C),
strong
(ultimate
strength
43
MPa),
hard
(modulus
1.85
GPa),
modestly
flexible.
notable
mechanical
properties
are
bolstered
its
superior
barriers
oxygen
moisture
permeation
compared
common
packaging
materials.
In
addition,
this
postfunctionalized
OH-containing
shows
higher
adhesion
than
comparative
commercial
adhesives.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
147(9), P. 7788 - 7798
Published: Feb. 20, 2025
It
remains
a
long-standing
challenge
for
chemical
recycling
of
polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHAs)
to
propiolactone-based
monomers
due
the
high
ring
strain
and
many
inevitable
side
reactions.
In
this
contribution,
novel
α-spiro-cyclohexyl-propiolactone
(SHPL)
has
been
designed
with
reactivity
toward
ring-opening
polymerization
even
at
catalyst
loading
<1
ppm.
The
resulting
poly(3-hydroxy-2-spiro-cyclohexylpropionate)
(P3HSHP)
exhibited
thermal
stability
Td
364
°C
Tm
272
°C.
Meanwhile,
it
could
be
depolymerized
back
SHPL
in
86%
yield
without
decarboxylation
or
elimination
products.
Notably,
exploited
construct
high-performance
thermoplastic
elastomers
(TPEs)
via
one-pot
copolymerization
ε-caprolactone
(CL).
Particularly,
gradient
P(CL2000-grad-SHPL500)
showcased
an
ultimate
tensile
strength
58.8
±
4.0
MPa,
stretchability
1959
53%,
record
toughness
600
MJ/m3,
elastic
recovery
(>90%).
This
superior
performance
advance
development
new
sustainable
TPEs.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
147(9), P. 7624 - 7633
Published: Feb. 24, 2025
The
rapid
expansion
in
lithium
battery
production
and
disposal
presents
considerable
sustainability
challenges,
emphasizing
the
critical
need
for
recycling.
However,
current
methods
predominantly
focus
on
metals
from
cathodes,
while
electrolytes
have
rarely
been
recycled.
Here,
we
propose
an
innovative
closed-loop
design
solid
polymer
(SPEs),
enabled
by
reversible
catalysis
of
bis(trifluoromethane)
sulfonimide
(LiTFSI)
both
polymerization
depolymerization.
formation
a
hydrogen-bonded
adduct
between
TFSI-
alcohol
initiates
situ
ring-opening
Li+-activated
trimethylene
carbonate
(TMC),
generating
well-defined
SPEs.
With
delicate
structural
optimization,
SPE
achieves
outstanding
ionic
conductivity
1.62
×
10-3
S
cm-1
at
room
temperature
with
robust
high-voltage
stability
up
to
4.7
V.
assembled
Li||NCM811
demonstrates
promising
cycling
88%
capacity
retention
over
100
cycles.
Upon
end-of-life,
LiTFSI
facilitates
selective
depolymerization
polycarbonate-based
180
°C
without
introducing
external
catalysts,
recovering
TMC
monomer
(>90%)
(>98%)
reuse.
This
work
highlights
significant
advance
recyclable
SPEs
vital
step
toward
sustainable
technology.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 22, 2025
Degradable
chalcogenide
polyesters,
e.g.,
polythioesters
(PTEs),
typically
exhibit
improved
thermal,
mechanical,
and
optical
properties.
Anionic
ring-opening
polymerization
(ROP)
of
thionolactones,
an
intrinsically
promising
yet
underexplored
approach
to
accessing
PTEs,
however,
is
still
limited
by:
intolerance
metal
catalysts,
inadequate
control
over
chain
growth,
the
absence
aromatic
system.
Monomer
design-boosted
mechanistic
studies
may
address
above
challenges.
Here,
we
present
a
new
highly
reactive
thionolactone
synthesized
from
1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diol
(BINOL).
Our
investigations
into
kinetics
thermodynamics
have
underscored
importance
rapid
initiation,
eventually
leading
discovery
tetrabutylammonium
2-naphthyl-thiocarboxylate
as
distinctive
initiator
that
enables
genuinely
controlled
living
thionolactones.
Ultimately,
atropisomerism
inherent
in
BINOL
has
resulted
creation
axially
chiral
PTE
materials
with
tailored
molecular
weights,
enantiomeric
compositions,
topologies.
Angewandte Chemie,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 22, 2025
Abstract
Degradable
chalcogenide
polyesters,
e.g.,
polythioesters
(PTEs),
typically
exhibit
improved
thermal,
mechanical,
and
optical
properties.
Anionic
ring‐opening
polymerization
(ROP)
of
thionolactones,
an
intrinsically
promising
yet
underexplored
approach
to
accessing
PTEs,
however,
is
still
limited
by:
intolerance
metal
catalysts,
inadequate
control
over
chain
growth,
the
absence
aromatic
system.
Monomer
design‐boosted
mechanistic
studies
may
address
above
challenges.
Here,
we
present
a
new
highly
reactive
thionolactone
synthesized
from
1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diol
(BINOL).
Our
investigations
into
kinetics
thermodynamics
have
underscored
importance
rapid
initiation,
eventually
leading
discovery
tetrabutylammonium
2‐naphthyl‐thiocarboxylate
as
distinctive
initiator
that
enables
genuinely
controlled
living
thionolactones.
Ultimately,
atropisomerism
inherent
in
BINOL
has
resulted
creation
axially
chiral
PTE
materials
with
tailored
molecular
weights,
enantiomeric
compositions,
topologies.
Advanced Functional Materials,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 9, 2025
Abstract
Despite
the
great
successes
achieved
for
closed‐loop
recyclable
polymers
in
last
decade,
thermoplastic
elastomers
(TPEs)
with
recyclability
and
good
mechanical
performances
are
largely
underexplored.
In
this
contribution,
preparation
of
PδVL‐
b
‐PβMVL‐
‐PδVL
triblock
copolymers
via
one‐pot
sequential
ring‐opening
copolymerization
bio‐renewable
β‐methyl‐δ‐valerolactone
(βMVL)
δ‐valerolactone
(δVL)
is
achieved.
The
obtained
behave
as
TPEs
that
exhibit
superior
tensile
strength
toughness
well
comparable
elasticity
to
most
previously
reported
polyester‐based
commercial
styrenic
copolymer‐based
TPEs.
Remarkably,
these
can
be
depolymerized
recover
pristine
monomers
a
high
yield
by
simply
heating
materials
under
reduced
pressure
presence
stannous
octoate
catalyst.
recovered
separated
or
directly
used
prepare
original
TPEs,
thus
establishing
life
cycle.