Macromolecules,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
58(8), P. 3898 - 3905
Published: April 11, 2025
Ring-opening
metathesis
polymerization
(ROMP)
has
been
widely
used
for
the
synthesis
of
functional
polymers.
However,
most
ROMP-derived
polymers
are
nondepolymerizable,
limiting
their
sustainability
and
eco-friendiness.
While
recent
advances
in
designing
low-strain
cyclic
olefin
monomers
have
enabled
ROMP
depolymerizable
polyolefins,
scope
these
remains
limited
due
to
narrow
range
ring
strain
energies
(RSEs
=
4.7-5.4
kcal/mol)
required
allow
both
depolymerization
a
closed-loop
recycling
process.
Herein,
we
present
new
class
chemically
recyclable
polyolefins
based
on
cycloheptene
derivatives
with
RSEs
ranging
from
3.8
7.2
kcal/mol.
The
wide
establishment
structure-polymerizability-depolymerizability
relationship,
shedding
light
role
RSE
depolymerization.
A
group
transformation
(FGT)
strategy,
harnessing
reversible
ketone-to-acetal
chemistry,
was
developed
overcome
low
polymerizability
moderate
depolymerizability
made
moderate-strain
monomers.
This
FGT
approach
not
only
enhanced
chemical
moderately
but
also
provided
access
highly
that
challenging
synthesize
through
direct
ultralow
Moreover,
thermal
properties
this
study
tunable,
broad
glass
transition
temperatures
(-7
104
°C),
highlighting
potential
various
applications.
Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
124(16), P. 9457 - 9579
Published: Aug. 16, 2024
The
large
production
volumes
of
commodity
polyolefins
(specifically,
polyethylene,
polypropylene,
polystyrene,
and
poly(vinyl
chloride)),
in
conjunction
with
their
low
unit
values
multitude
short-term
uses,
have
resulted
a
significant
pressing
waste
management
challenge.
Only
small
fraction
these
is
currently
mechanically
recycled,
the
rest
being
incinerated,
accumulating
landfills,
or
leaking
into
natural
environment.
Since
are
energy-rich
materials,
there
considerable
interest
recouping
some
chemical
value
while
simultaneously
motivating
more
responsible
end-of-life
management.
An
emerging
strategy
catalytic
depolymerization,
which
portion
C-C
bonds
polyolefin
backbone
broken
assistance
catalyst
and,
cases,
additional
molecule
reagents.
When
products
molecules
materials
higher
own
right,
as
feedstocks,
process
called
upcycling.
This
review
summarizes
recent
progress
for
four
major
upcycling
strategies:
hydrogenolysis,
(hydro)cracking,
tandem
processes
involving
metathesis,
selective
oxidation.
Key
considerations
include
macromolecular
reaction
mechanisms
relative
to
mechanisms,
design
transformations,
effect
conditions
on
product
selectivity.
Metrics
describing
critically
evaluated,
an
outlook
future
advances
described.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
63(19)
Published: March 11, 2024
Abstract
Photocatalytic
upcycling
and
depolymerization
of
vinyl
polymers
have
emerged
as
promising
strategies
to
combat
plastic
pollution
promote
a
circular
economy.
This
mini
review
critically
summarizes
current
developments
in
the
degradation
including
polystyrene
poly(meth)acrylates.
Of
these
material
classes,
polymethacrylates
possess
unique
possibility
undergo
photocatalytic
back
monomer
under
thermodynamically
favourable
conditions,
thus
presenting
significant
advantages
over
traditional
thermal
strategies.
Our
perspective
on
formidable
challenges
potential
future
directions
are
also
discussed.
Chemical Society Reviews,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
53(14), P. 7309 - 7327
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
Oxidative
degradation
is
a
powerful
method
to
degrade
plastics
into
oligomers
and
small
oxidized
products.
While
thermal
energy
has
been
conventionally
employed
as
an
external
stimulus,
recent
advances
in
photochemistry
have
enabled
photocatalytic
oxidative
of
polymers
under
mild
conditions.
This
tutorial
review
presents
overview
degradation,
from
its
earliest
examples
emerging
strategies.
briefly
discusses
the
motivation
development
with
focus
on
underlying
mechanisms.
Then,
we
will
examine
modern
studies
primarily
relevant
catalytic
degradation.
Lastly,
highlight
some
unique
using
unconventional
approaches
for
polymer
such
electrochemistry.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
146(22), P. 15428 - 15437
Published: May 25, 2024
Chemical
recycling
to
monomers
(CRM)
offers
a
promising
closed-loop
approach
transition
from
current
linear
plastic
economy
toward
more
sustainable
circular
paradigm.
Typically,
this
has
focused
on
modulating
the
ceiling
temperature
(Tc)
of
monomers.
Despite
considerable
advancements,
polymers
with
low
Tc
often
face
challenges
such
as
inadequate
thermal
stability,
exemplified
by
poly(γ-butyrolactone)
(PGBL)
decomposition
∼200
°C.
In
contrast,
floor
(Tf)-regulated
polymers,
particularly
those
synthesized
via
ring-opening
polymerization
(ROP)
macrolactones,
inherently
exhibit
enhanced
thermodynamic
stability
increases.
However,
development
Tf
regulated
chemically
recyclable
remains
relatively
underexplored.
context,
judicious
design
and
efficient
synthesis
biobased
macrocyclic
diester
monomer
(HOD),
we
developed
type
-regulated
poly(ketal-ester)
(PHOD).
First,
entropy-driven
ROP
HOD
generated
high-molar
mass
PHOD
exceptional
Td,5%
reaching
up
353
Notably,
it
maintains
high
345
°C
even
without
removing
catalyst.
This
contrasts
markedly
PGBL,
which
spontaneously
depolymerizes
back
above
its
in
presence
Second,
displays
outstanding
chemical
recyclability
at
room
within
just
1
min
tBuOK.
Finally,
copolymerization
pentadecanolide
(PDL)
high-performance
copolymers
(PHOD-co-PPDL)
tunable
mechanical
properties
both
components.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
146(18), P. 12271 - 12287
Published: April 24, 2024
The
integration
of
next-generation
electronics
into
society
is
rapidly
reshaping
our
daily
interactions
and
lifestyles,
revolutionizing
communication
engagement
with
the
world.
Future
promise
stimuli-responsive
features
enhanced
biocompatibility,
such
as
skin-like
health
monitors
sensors
embedded
in
food
packaging,
transforming
healthcare
reducing
waste.
Imparting
degradability
may
reduce
adverse
environmental
impact
lead
to
opportunities
for
monitoring.
While
advancements
have
been
made
producing
degradable
materials
encapsulants,
substrates,
dielectrics,
availability
conducting
semiconducting
remains
restricted.
π-Conjugated
polymers
are
promising
candidates
development
conductors
or
semiconductors
due
ability
tune
their
stimuli-responsiveness,
mechanical
durability.
This
perspective
highlights
three
design
considerations:
selection
π-conjugated
monomers,
synthetic
coupling
strategies,
degradation
polymers,
generating
electronics.
We
describe
current
challenges
monomeric
present
options
circumvent
these
issues
by
highlighting
biobased
compounds
known
pathways
stable
monomers
that
allow
chemically
recyclable
polymers.
Next,
we
strategies
compatible
synthesis
including
direct
arylation
polymerization
enzymatic
polymerization.
Lastly,
discuss
various
modes
depolymerization
characterization
techniques
enhance
comprehension
potential
byproducts
formed
during
polymer
cleavage.
Our
considers
parameters
parallel
rather
than
independently
while
having
a
targeted
application
mind
accelerate
discovery
high-performance
organic
ACS Catalysis,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(16), P. 12437 - 12453
Published: Aug. 5, 2024
Synthetic
polymers
play
an
indispensable
role
in
modern
society,
finding
applications
across
various
sectors
ranging
from
packaging,
textiles,
and
consumer
products
to
construction,
electronics,
industrial
machinery.
Commodity
plastics
are
cheap
produce,
widely
available,
versatile
meet
diverse
application
needs.
As
a
result,
millions
of
metric
tons
manufactured
annually.
However,
current
approaches
for
the
chemical
recycling
postconsumer
plastic
waste,
primarily
based
on
pyrolysis,
lag
efficiency
compared
their
production
methods.
In
recent
years,
significant
research
has
focused
developing
milder,
economically
viable
methods
commodity
plastics,
which
involves
converting
waste
back
into
monomers
or
transforming
it
other
valuable
chemicals.
This
Perspective
examines
both
cutting-edge
laboratory-scale
contributing
advancements
field
recycling.
ACS Macro Letters,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 235 - 240
Published: Feb. 10, 2025
Although
thermal
solution
RAFT
depolymerization
has
recently
emerged
as
an
efficient
chemical
recycling
methodology,
current
approaches
require
specialized
solvents
(i.e.,
dioxane),
typically
suffer
from
extended
reaction
times,
and
operate
exclusively
under
highly
dilute
conditions
5
mM
repeat
unit
concentration).
To
circumvent
these
limitations,
a
commercial
radical
initiator
is
introduced
to
kinetically
untrap
the
promote
chain-end
activation.
By
varying
concentration,
remarkable
rate
acceleration
(up
72
times
faster)
can
be
observed,
enabling
completion
of
within
min.
Notably,
20-fold
increase
in
concentration
did
not
appreciably
compromise
final
yield,
while
very
high
percentages
monomer
could
recovered
wide
range
solvents,
including
dimethyl
sulfoxide,
anisole,
xylene,
acetonitrile,
toluene,
trichlorobenzene.
Our
findings
only
offer
intriguing
mechanistic
aspects,
but
also
significantly
expand
scope
applications
depolymerization.