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Wu XT, Yang C, Xi JS, Shi C, Du FS, Li ZC. Enabling Closed-Loop Circularity of "Non-Polymerizable" α, β-Conjugated Lactone Towards High-Performance Polyester with the Assistance of Cyclopentadiene. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404179. [PMID: 38488293 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Chemical recycling of polymers to monomers presents a promising solution to the escalating crisis associated with plastic waste. Despite considerable progress made in this field, the primary efforts have been focused on redesigning new monomers to produce readily recyclable polymers. In contrast, limited research into the potential of seemingly "non-polymerizable" monomers has been conducted. Herein, we propose a paradigm that leverages a "chaperone"-assisted strategy to establish closed-loop circularity for a "non-polymerizable" α, β-conjugated lactone, 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO). The resulting PDPO, a structural analogue of poly(δ-valerolactone) (PVL), exhibits enhanced thermal properties with a melting point (Tm) of 114 °C and a decomposition temperature (Td,5%) of 305 °C. Notably, owing to the structural similarity between DPO and δ-VL, the copolymerization generates semi-crystalline P(DPO-co-VL)s irrespective of the DPO incorporation ratio. Intriguingly, the inherent C=C bonds in P(DPO-co-VL)s enable their convenient post-functionalization via Michael-addition reaction. Lastly, PDPO was demonstrated to be chemically recyclable via ring-closing metathesis (RCM), representing a significant step towards the pursuit of enabling the closed-loop circularity of "non-polymerizable" lactones without altering the ultimate polymer structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chun Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jian-Shu Xi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Changxia Shi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Fu-Sheng Du
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zi-Chen Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Si G, Li C, Chen M, Chen C. Polymer Multi-Block and Multi-Block + Strategies for the Upcycling of Mixed Polyolefins and Other Plastics. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202311733. [PMID: 37850388 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Due to a continued rise in the production and use of plastic products, their end-of-life pollution has become a pressing global issue. One of the biggest challenges in plastics recycling is the separation of different polymers. Multi-block copolymers (MBCPs) represent an efficient strategy for the upcycling of mixed plastics via induced compatibilization, but this approach is limited by difficulties associated with synthesis and structural modification. In this contribution, several synthetic strategies are explored to prepare MBCPs with tunable microstructures, which were then used as compatibilizer additives to upcycle mixtures of polyolefins with other plastics. A multi-block+ strategy based on a reactive telechelic block copolymer platform was introduced, which enabled block extension during the in situ melt blending of mixed plastics, leading to better compatibilizing properties as well as better 3D printing capability. This strategy was also applicable to more complex ternary plastic blends. The polymer multi-block strategy enabled by versatile MBCPs synthesis and the multi-block+ strategy enabled by in situ block extension show exciting opportunities for the upcycling of mixed plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guifu Si
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Min Chen
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Changle Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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Witte JF, Wasternack J, Wei S, Schalley CA, Paulus B. The Interplay of Weakly Coordinating Anions and the Mechanical Bond: A Systematic Study of the Explicit Influence of Counterions on the Properties of (Pseudo)rotaxanes. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073077. [PMID: 37049840 PMCID: PMC10096450 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their ability to stabilise highly reactive cations. It may well be argued, however, that a profound understanding of what truly defines a WCA is still lacking, and systematic studies to unravel counterion effects are scarce. In this work, we investigate a supramolecular pseudorotaxane formation reaction, subject to a selection of anions, ranging from strongly to weakly coordinating, which not only aids in fostering our knowledge about anion coordination properties, but also provides valuable theoretical insight into the nature of the mechanical bond. We employ state-of-the-art DFT-based methods and tools, combined with isothermal calorimetry and 1H NMR experiments, to compute anion-dependent Gibbs free association energies ΔGa, as well as to evaluate intermolecular interactions. We find correlations between ΔGa and the anions’ solvation energies, which are exploited to calculate physico-chemical reaction parameters in the context of coordinating anions. Furthermore, we show that the binding situation within the (pseudo)rotaxanes can be mostly understood by straight-forward electrostatic considerations. However, quantum-chemical effects such as dispersion and charge-transfer interactions become more and more relevant when WCAs are employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Felix Witte
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (J.F.W.); (B.P.)
| | - Janos Wasternack
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Organische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 20, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shenquan Wei
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph A. Schalley
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Organische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 20, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Beate Paulus
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (J.F.W.); (B.P.)
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Peng D, Xu M, Tan C, Chen C. Emulsion Polymerization Strategy for Heterogenization of Olefin Polymerization Catalysts. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Menghe Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chen Tan
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Changle Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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