1
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Shi C, Diment WT, Chen EYX. Closed-Loop Recycling of Mixed Plastics of Polyester and CO 2-Based Polycarbonate to a Single Monomer. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202405083. [PMID: 38837601 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405083] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Physical blending is an effective strategy for tailoring polymeric materials to specific application requirements. However, physically blended mixed plastics waste adds additional barriers in mechanical or chemical recycling. This difficulty arises from the intricate requirement for meticulous sorting and separation of the various polymers in the inherent incompatibility of mixed polymers during recycling. To overcome this impediment, this work furthers the emerging single-monomer - multiple-materials approach through the design of a bifunctional monomer that can not only orthogonally polymerize into two different types of polymers - specifically lactone-based polyester and CO2-based polycarbonate - but the resultant polymers and their mixture can also be depolymerized back to the single, original monomer when facilitated by catalysis. Specifically, the lactone/epoxide hybrid bifunctional monomer (BiLO) undergoes ring-opening polymerization through the lactone manifold to produce polyester, PE(BiLO), and is also applied to ring-opening copolymerization with CO2, via the epoxide manifold, to yield polycarbonate, PC(BiLO). Remarkably, a one-pot recycling process of a BiLO-derived PE/PC blend back to the constituent monomer BiLO in >99 % selectivity was achieved with a superbase catalyst at 150 °C, thereby effectively obviating the requirement for sorting and separation typically required for recycling of mixed polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
| | - Wilfred T Diment
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
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2
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Niu Y, Liu Q, Ou X, Zhou Y, Sun Z, Yan F. CO 2-Sourced Polymer Dyes for Dual Information Encryption. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400470. [PMID: 38818740 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Large amounts of small molecule dyes leak into the ecosystems annually in harmful and unsustainable ways. Polymer dyes have attracted much attention because of their high migration resistance, excellent stability, and minimized leakage. However, the complex synthesis process, high cost, and poor degradability hinder their widespread application. Herein, green and sustainable polymer dyes are prepared using natural dye quercetin (Qc) and CO2 through a one-step process. The CO2-sourced polymer dyes show strong migration resistance, high stability, and can be degraded on demand. Additionally, the CO2-sourced polymer dyes showed unique responses to Zn2+, leading to significantly enhanced fluorescence, highlighting their potential for information encryption/decryption. The CO2-sourced polymer dyes can solve the environmental hazards caused by small molecule dye leakage and promote the carbon cycle process. Meanwhile, the one-step synthesis process is expected to achieve sustainable and widespread utilization of CO2-sourced polymer dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Qinbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Xu Ou
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yingjie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Zhe Sun
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Feng Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
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3
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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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4
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Poon KC, Smith ML, Williams CK. Controlled Carbon Dioxide Terpolymerizations to Deliver Toughened yet Recyclable Thermoplastics. Macromolecules 2024; 57:4199-4207. [PMID: 38765502 PMCID: PMC11100004 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Using CO2 polycarbonates as engineering thermoplastics has been limited by their mechanical performances, particularly their brittleness. Poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) has a high tensile strength (40 MPa) but is very brittle (elongation at break <3%), which limits both its processing and applications. Here, well-defined, high molar mass CO2 terpolymers are prepared from cyclohexene oxide (CHO), cyclopentene oxide (CPO), and CO2 by using a Zn(II)Mg(II) catalyst. In the catalysis, CHO and CPO show reactivity ratios of 1.53 and 0.08 with CO2, respectively; as such, the terpolymers have gradient structures. The poly(cyclohexene carbonate)-grad-poly(cyclopentene carbonate) (PCHC-grad-PCPC) have high molar masses (86 < Mn < 164 kg mol-1, ĐM < 1.22) and good thermal stability (Td > 250 °C). All the polymers are amorphous with a single, high glass transition temperature (96 < Tg < 108 °C). The polymer entanglement molar masses, determined using dynamic mechanical analyses, range from 4 < Me < 23 kg mol-1 depending on the polymer composition (PCHC:PCPC). These polymers show superior mechanical performance to PCHC; specifically the lead material (PCHC0.28-grad-PCPC0.72) shows 25% greater tensile strength and 160% higher tensile toughness. These new plastics are recycled, using cycles of reprocessing by compression molding (150 °C, 1.2 ton m-2, 60 min), four times without any loss in mechanical properties. They are also efficiently chemically recycled to selectively yield the two epoxide monomers, CHO and CPO, as well as carbon dioxide, with high activity (TOF = 270-1653 h-1, 140 °C, 120 min). The isolated recycled monomers are repolymerized to form thermoplastic showing the same material properties. The findings highlight the benefits of the terpolymer strategy to deliver thermoplastics combining the beneficial low entanglement molar mass, high glass transition temperatures, and tensile strengths; PCHC properties are significantly improved by incorporating small quantities (23 mol %) of cyclopentene carbonate linkages. The general strategy of designing terpolymers to include chain segments of low entanglement molar mass may help to toughen other brittle and renewably sourced plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam C. Poon
- Chemistry Research Laboratory,
Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Madeleine L. Smith
- Chemistry Research Laboratory,
Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K. Williams
- Chemistry Research Laboratory,
Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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5
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Rosetto G, Vidal F, McGuire TM, Kerr RWF, Williams CK. High Molar Mass Polycarbonates as Closed-Loop Recyclable Thermoplastics. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8381-8393. [PMID: 38484170 PMCID: PMC10979403 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Using carbon dioxide (CO2) to make recyclable thermoplastics could reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with polymer manufacturing. CO2/cyclic epoxide ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) allows for >30 wt % of the polycarbonate to derive from CO2; so far, the field has largely focused on oligocarbonates. In contrast, efficient catalysts for high molar mass polycarbonates are underinvestigated, and the resulting thermoplastic structure-property relationships, processing, and recycling need to be elucidated. This work describes a new organometallic Mg(II)Co(II) catalyst that combines high productivity, low loading tolerance, and the highest polymerization control to yield polycarbonates with number average molecular weight (Mn) values from 4 to 130 kg mol-1, with narrow, monomodal distributions. It is used in the ROCOP of CO2 with bicyclic epoxides to produce a series of samples, each with Mn > 100 kg mol-1, of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC), poly(vinyl-cyclohexene carbonate) (PvCHC), poly(ethyl-cyclohexene carbonate) (PeCHC, by hydrogenation of PvCHC), and poly(cyclopentene carbonate) (PCPC). All these materials are amorphous thermoplastics, with high glass transition temperatures (85 < Tg < 126 °C, by differential scanning calorimetry) and high thermal stability (Td > 260 °C). The cyclic ring substituents mediate the materials' chain entanglements, viscosity, and glass transition temperatures. Specifically, PCPC was found to have 10× lower entanglement molecular weight (Me)n and 100× lower zero-shear viscosity compared to those of PCHC, showing potential as a future thermoplastic. All these high molecular weight polymers are fully recyclable, either by reprocessing or by using the Mg(II)Co(II) catalyst for highly selective depolymerizations to epoxides and CO2. PCPC shows the fastest depolymerization rates, achieving an activity of 2500 h-1 and >99% selectivity for cyclopentene oxide and CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas M. McGuire
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Ryan W. F. Kerr
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Charlotte K. Williams
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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6
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Lou X, Liu F, Li Q, Chu M, Wang G, Chen J, Cao M. Advances in solar-driven, electro/photoelectrochemical, and microwave-assisted upcycling of waste polyesters. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:2828-2838. [PMID: 38362916 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05930h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastic waste in the environment causes significant environmental pollution. The potential of using chemical methods for upcycling plastic waste offers a dual solution to ensure resource sustainability and environmental restoration. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies driven by solar-driven, electro/photoelectrochemical-catalytic, and microwave-assisted methods for the conversion of plastics into various valuable chemicals. It emphasizes selective conversion during the plastic transformation process, elucidates reaction pathways, and optimizes product selectivity. Finally, the article offers insights into the future developments of chemical upcycling of polyesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxi Lou
- Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fangyue Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qingye Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mingyu Chu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guiling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China.
| | - Jinxing Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Muhan Cao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
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7
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Wang K, Sun Z, Guo W, Chen M, Zhu C, Fei J, Liu Y, He H, Cao Y, Bao X. Upgrading Waste Polylactide via Catalyst-Controlled Tandem Hydrolysis-Oxidation. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202301128. [PMID: 37793185 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
As plastic waste pollution continues to pose significant challenges to our environment, it is crucial to develop eco-friendly processes that can transform plastic waste into valuable chemical products in line with the principles of green chemistry. One major challenge is breaking down plastic waste into economically valuable carbon resources. This however presents an opportunity for sustainable circular economies. In this regard, a flexible approach is presented that involves the use of supported-metal catalysts to selectively degrade polylactide waste using molecular oxygen. This protocol has several advantages, including its operation under organic solvent-free and mild conditions, simplicity of implementation, and high atom efficiency, resulting in minimal waste. This approach enables the chemical upcycling of polylactide waste into valuable chemicals such as pyruvic acid, acetic acid, or a mixture containing equimolar amounts of acetic acid and formaldehyde, providing a viable alternative for accessing key value-added feedstocks from waste and spent plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaizhi Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Zehui Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Wendi Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Mugeng Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Conglin Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiachen Fei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongmei Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Heyong He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Cao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinhe Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 116023, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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8
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Smith M, McGuire TM, Buchard A, Williams CK. Evaluating Heterodinuclear Mg(II)M(II) (M = Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) Catalysts for the Chemical Recycling of Poly(cyclohexene carbonate). ACS Catal 2023; 13:15770-15778. [PMID: 38125977 PMCID: PMC10728899 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c04208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Polymer chemical recycling to monomers (CRM) is important to help achieve a circular plastic economy, but the "rules" governing catalyst design for such processes remain unclear. Here, carbon dioxide-derived polycarbonates undergo CRM to produce epoxides and carbon dioxide. A series of dinuclear catalysts, Mg(II)M(II) where M(II) = Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, are compared for poly(cyclohexene carbonate) depolymerizations. The recycling is conducted in the solid state, at 140 °C monitored using thermal gravimetric analyses, or performed at larger-scale using laboratory glassware. The most active catalysts are, in order of decreasing rate, Mg(II)Co(II), Mg(II)Ni(II), and Mg(II)Zn(II), with the highest activity reaching 8100 h-1 and with >99% selectivity for cyclohexene oxide. Both the activity and selectivity values are the highest yet reported in this field, and the catalysts operate at low loadings and moderate temperatures (from 1:300 to 1:5000, 140 °C). For the best heterodinuclear catalysts, the depolymerization kinetics and activation barriers are determined. The rates in both reverse depolymerization and forward CHO/CO2 polymerization catalysis show broadly similar trends, but the processes feature different intermediates; forward polymerization depends upon a metal-carbonate intermediate, while reverse depolymerization depends upon a metal-alkoxide intermediate. These dinuclear catalysts are attractive for the chemical recycling of carbon dioxide-derived plastics and should be prioritized for recycling of other oxygenated polymers and copolymers, including polyesters and polyethers. This work provides insights into the factors controlling depolymerization catalysis and steers future recycling catalyst design toward exploitation of lightweight and abundant s-block metals, such as Mg(II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine
L. Smith
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Thomas M. McGuire
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Antoine Buchard
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bath, Institute
for Sustainability, Claverton Down, Bath BA2
7AY, U.K.
| | - Charlotte K. Williams
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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9
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Wei P, Bhat GA, Darensbourg DJ. Enabling New Approaches: Recent Advances in Processing Aliphatic Polycarbonate-Based Materials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307507. [PMID: 37534963 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Aliphatic polycarbonates (aPCs) have become increasingly popular as functional materials due to their biocompatibility and capacity for on-demand degradation. Advances in polymerization techniques and the introduction of new functional monomers have expanded the library of aPCs available, offering a diverse range of chemical compositions and structures. To accommodate the emerging requirements of new applications in biomedical and energy-related fields, various manufacturing techniques have been adopted for processing aPC-based materials. However, a summary of these techniques has yet to be conducted. The aim of this paper is to enrich the toolbox available to researchers, enabling them to select the most suitable technique for their materials. In this paper, a concise review of the recent progress in processing techniques, including controlled self-assembly, electrospinning, additive manufacturing, and other techniques, is presented. We also highlight the specific challenges and opportunities for the sustainable growth of this research area and the successful integration of aPCs in industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Wei
- Soft Matter Facility, Texas A&M University, 1313 Research Parkway, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Gulzar A Bhat
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Donald J Darensbourg
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 3255 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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10
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Abbasoglu T, Ciardi D, Tournilhac F, Irusta L, Sardon H. Exploiting the Use of the Decarboxylative S-Alkylation Reaction to Produce Self-Blowing, Recyclable Polycarbonate Foams. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308339. [PMID: 37599264 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308339] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric foams are widely used in many industrial applications due to their light weight and superior thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. Currently, increasing research efforts is being directed towards the development of greener foam formulations that circumvent the use of isocyanates/blowing agents that are commonly used in the production of foam materials. Here, a straightforward, one-pot method is presented to prepare self-blown polycarbonate (PC) foams by exploiting the (decarboxylative) S-alkylation reaction for in situ generation of the blowing agent (CO2 ). The concomitant formation of a reactive alcohol intermediate promotes a cascade ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic carbonates to yield a cross-linked polymer network. It is shown that these hydroxyl-functionalized polycarbonate-based foams can be easily recycled into films through thermal compression molding. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that complete hydrolytic degradation of the foams is possible, thus offering the potential for zero-waste materials. This straightforward and versatile process broadens the scope of isocyanate-free, self-foaming materials, opening a new pathway for next-generation environmentally friendly foams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansu Abbasoglu
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Diego Ciardi
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry,and Materials, CNRS, ESPCI-Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Francois Tournilhac
- Molecular, Macromolecular Chemistry,and Materials, CNRS, ESPCI-Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lourdes Irusta
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Haritz Sardon
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
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11
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Poon KC, Gregory GL, Sulley GS, Vidal F, Williams CK. Toughening CO 2 -Derived Copolymer Elastomers Through Ionomer Networking. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2302825. [PMID: 37201907 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) to make polycarbonates through the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of CO2 and epoxides valorizes and recycles CO2 and reduces pollution in polymer manufacturing. Recent developments in catalysis provide access to polycarbonates with well-defined structures and allow for copolymerization with biomass-derived monomers; however, the resulting material properties are underinvestigated. Here, new types of CO2 -derived thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are described together with a generally applicable method to augment tensile mechanical strength and Young's modulus without requiring material re-design. These TPEs combine high glass transition temperature (Tg ) amorphous blocks comprising CO2 -derived poly(carbonates) (A-block), with low Tg poly(ε-decalactone), from castor oil, (B-block) in ABA structures. The poly(carbonate) blocks are selectively functionalized with metal-carboxylates where the metals are Na(I), Mg(II), Ca(II), Zn(II) and Al(III). The colorless polymers, featuring <1 wt% metal, show tunable thermal (Tg ), and mechanical (elongation at break, elasticity, creep-resistance) properties. The best elastomers show >50-fold higher Young's modulus and 21-times greater tensile strength, without compromise to elastic recovery, compared with the starting block polymers. They have wide operating temperatures (-20 to 200 °C), high creep-resistance and yet remain recyclable. In the future, these materials may substitute high-volume petrochemical elastomers and be utilized in high-growth fields like medicine, robotics, and electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam C Poon
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Georgina L Gregory
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Gregory S Sulley
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Fernando Vidal
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Charlotte K Williams
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
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12
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Tu YM, Gong FL, Wu YC, Cai Z, Zhu JB. Insights into substitution strategy towards thermodynamic and property regulation of chemically recyclable polymers. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3198. [PMID: 37268636 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of chemically recyclable polymers serves as an attractive approach to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Monomer design principle is the key to achieving chemical recycling to monomer. Herein, we provide a systematic investigation to evaluate a range of substitution effects and structure-property relationships in the ɛ-caprolactone (CL) system. Thermodynamic and recyclability studies reveal that the substituent size and position could regulate their ceiling temperatures (Tc). Impressively, M4 equipped with a tert-butyl group displays a Tc of 241 °C. A series of spirocyclic acetal-functionalized CLs prepared by a facile two-step reaction undergo efficient ring-opening polymerization and subsequent depolymerization. The resulting polymers demonstrate various thermal properties and a transformation of the mechanical performance from brittleness to ductility. Notably, the toughness and ductility of P(M13) is comparable to the commodity plastic isotactic polypropylene. This comprehensive study is aimed to provide a guideline to the future monomer design towards chemically recyclable polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Min Tu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Fu-Long Gong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Chen Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Zhongzheng Cai
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Jian-Bo Zhu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
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13
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Grimaldi I, Santulli F, Lamberti M, Mazzeo M. Chromium Complexes Supported by Salen-Type Ligands for the Synthesis of Polyesters, Polycarbonates, and Their Copolymers through Chemoselective Catalysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087642. [PMID: 37108806 PMCID: PMC10144741 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Salen, Salan, and Salalen chromium (III) chloride complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the ring-opening copolymerization reactions of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) with CO2 and of phthalic anhydride (PA) with limonene oxide (LO) or cyclohexene oxide (CHO). In the production of polycarbonates, the more flexible skeleton of salalen and salan ancillary ligands favors high activity. Differently, in the copolymerization of phthalic anhydride with the epoxides, the salen complex showed the best performance. Diblock polycarbonate-polyester copolymers were selectively obtained by one-pot procedures from mixtures of CO2, cyclohexene oxide, and phthalic anhydride with all complexes. In addition, all chromium complexes were revealed to be very active in the chemical depolymerization of polycyclohexene carbonate producing cyclohexene oxide with high selectivity, thus offering the opportunity to close the loop on the life of these materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Grimaldi
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Federica Santulli
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Marina Lamberti
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Mina Mazzeo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
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14
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Liu L, Tu Z, Lu Y, Wei Z. Scale Synthesis of Poly(butylene carbonate- co-terephthalate) and Its Depolymerization–Repolymerization Recycling Process. Ind Eng Chem Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c04007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lipeng Liu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhu Tu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhiyong Wei
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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15
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Liu Y, Lu XB. Current Challenges and Perspectives in CO 2-Based Polymers. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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16
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Liu Y, Xu J, Zhang Y, Shen Y, Li Z. Rapid Ring-Opening Polymerization of γ-Butyrolactone toward High-Molecular-Weight Poly (γ-butyrolactone) by an Organophosphazene Base and Bisurea Binary Catalyst. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202201107. [PMID: 36519360 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202201107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The low temperature condition, long reaction time and associated high energy inputs involved in the polymerization process still hampered the scalable production of poly(γ-butyrolactone) (PγBL) via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of low strained γBL due to its unfavorable thermodynamics. In this contribution, we presented the rapid ROP of γBL using a bisurea in combination with an organophosphazene base as the binary catalyst. Well-defined PγBL samples with various terminal groups were prepared by using different alcohol initiators. The bisurea as a co-catalyst exhibited much higher catalytic activity even compared to the most active monourea in previous report as supported by the kinetic experiments. A moderate monomer conversion of 61% was achieved within 10 mins, producing high-molecular-weight PγBL with Mn up to 37.5 kDa and good mechanical properties. The short polymerization time considerably reduced the energy cost for the ROP of γBL conducted at low temperature condition. This study may clear away obstacles for the scalable production and practical applications for PγBL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biobased Polymer Materials Shandong Provincial Education Department College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Jizhe Xu
- State Key Laboratory Base of Eco-Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biobased Polymer Materials Shandong Provincial Education Department College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Yong Shen
- State Key Laboratory Base of Eco-Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
| | - Zhibo Li
- Key Laboratory of Biobased Polymer Materials Shandong Provincial Education Department College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory Base of Eco-Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
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17
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Liao X, He JH, Zhang YT. CO 2 Fixation and PCHC Depolymerization by a Dinuclear β-Diketiminato Zinc Complex. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202201076. [PMID: 36468413 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202201076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The production of cyclic carbonates and (or) polycarbonates from the coupling of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) with epoxides is a practical strategy for CO2 fixation. Chemically recycling of the polycarbonates is also urgently needed for sustainable development of plastics. Here a dinuclear β-diketiminato (BDI) methyl zinc complex((BDI-ZnMe)2 , 1) is reported to achieve not only selective cyclic carbonates from cycloaddition of CO2 to meso-CHO in the presence of cocatalyst, but also effective depolymerization of PCHC into trans-CHC. The trans-CHC can be further transformed into cis-CHC, thus demonstrating great application potentials of this strategy in CO2 fixation and chemical recycling of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Jiang-Hua He
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Yue-Tao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
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18
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You H, Zhuo C, Yan S, Wang E, Cao H, Liu S, Wang X. CO 2 Deprotection-Mediated Switchable Polymerization for Precise Construction of Block Copolymers. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huai You
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunwei Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuo Yan
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Enhao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Han Cao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shunjie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People’s Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China
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19
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Zhang YY, Yang GW, Xie R, Zhu XF, Wu GP. Sequence-Reversible Construction of Oxygen-Rich Block Copolymers from Epoxide Mixtures by Organoboron Catalysts. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:19896-19909. [PMID: 36256447 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Switchable catalysis, in combination with epoxide-involved ring-opening (co)polymerization, is a powerful technique that can be used to synthesize various oxygen-rich block copolymers. Despite intense research in this field, the sequence-controlled polymerization from epoxide congeners has never been realized due to their similar ring-strain which exerts a decisive influence on the reaction process. Recently, quaternary ammonium (or phosphonium)-containing bifunctional organoboron catalysts have been developed by our group, showing high efficiency for various epoxide conversions. Herein, we, for the first time, report an operationally simple pathway to access well-defined polyether-block-polycarbonate copolymers from mixtures of epoxides by switchable catalysis, which was enabled through thermodynamically and kinetically preferential ring-opening of terminal epoxides or internal epoxides under different atmospheres (CO2 or N2) using one representative bifunctional organoboron catalyst. This strategy shows a broad substrate scope as it is suitable for various combinations of terminal epoxides and internal epoxides, delivering corresponding well-defined block copolymers. NMR, MALDI-TOF, and gel permeation chromatography analyses confirmed the successful construction of polyether-block-polycarbonate copolymers. Kinetic studies and density functional theory calculations elucidate the reversible selectivity between different epoxides in the presence/absence of CO2. Moreover, by replacing comonomer CO2 with cyclic anhydride, the well-defined polyether-block-polyester copolymers can also be synthesized. This work provides a rare example of sequence-controlled polymerization from epoxide mixtures, broadening the arsenal of switchable catalysis that can produce oxygen-rich polymers in a controlled manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Yao Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Guan-Wen Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Rui Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Guang-Peng Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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20
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Cai Z, Liu Y, Tao Y, Zhu JB. Recent Advances in Monomer Design for Recyclable Polymers. ACTA CHIMICA SINICA 2022. [DOI: 10.6023/a22050235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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