1
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Wang J, Kong J, Zhang X. Riboflavin-induced photo-ATRP electrochemical strategy for detection of biomarker trypsin. Talanta 2024; 277:126386. [PMID: 38876027 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The detection of trypsin and its inhibitors is important for both clinical diagnosis and disease treatment. Abnormal trypsin activity affects pancreatic function and leads to corresponding pathological changes in the body. Therefore, the study presented a riboflavin-induced photo-ATRP electrochemical assay of trypsin activity and its inhibitor, including detection of trypsin activity in real urine samples. Experiments were performed on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes modified with sulfhydryl groups of 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and target trypsin-specific cleavage of BSA-Au nanocluster (BSA-Au NCs) was followed by the modification of Au NCs to the electrodes using Au-S. The Au NCs immobilized monodeoxy-monomercapto-β-cyclodextrin@adamantan-2-amine (SH-β-CD@2-NH2-Ada) host-guest inclusion complexes to the electrode surfaces via Au-S. In a two-component photo-initiator system consisting of riboflavin as an initiator and ascorbic acid (AA) as a mild reducing agent under mild blue light radiation, a large number of electroactive substances were grafted onto the electrode surface to generate electrochemical signals. In addition, we have successfully realized the detection of clinical drug inhibitors of trypsin. The detection limit of the system is as low as 0.0024 ng/mL, which much littler than the average standard of trypsin in the patient's urine or serum. It's worth noting that this work will provide researchers with a different route to design electrochemical sensors based on non-covalent recognition strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, PR China
| | - Jinming Kong
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, PR China.
| | - Xueji Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, PR China
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2
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Mountaki S, Whitfield R, Liarou E, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. Open-Air Chemical Recycling: Fully Oxygen-Tolerant ATRP Depolymerization. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18848-18854. [PMID: 38958656 PMCID: PMC11258787 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
While oxygen-tolerant strategies have been overwhelmingly developed for controlled radical polymerizations, the low radical concentrations typically required for high monomer recovery render oxygen-tolerant solution depolymerizations particularly challenging. Here, an open-air atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) depolymerization is presented, whereby a small amount of a volatile cosolvent is introduced as a means to thoroughly remove oxygen. Ultrafast depolymerization (i.e., 2 min) could efficiently proceed in an open vessel, allowing a very high monomer retrieval to be achieved (i.e., ∼91% depolymerization efficiency), on par with that of the fully deoxygenated analogue. Oxygen probe studies combined with detailed depolymerization kinetics revealed the importance of the low-boiling point cosolvent in removing oxygen prior to the reaction, thus facilitating effective open-air depolymerization. The versatility of the methodology was demonstrated by performing reactions with a range of different ligands and at high polymer loadings (1 M monomer repeat unit concentration) without significantly compromising the yield. This approach provides a fully oxygen-tolerant, facile, and efficient route to chemically recycle ATRP-synthesized polymers, enabling exciting new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella
Afroditi Mountaki
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Evelina Liarou
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick Library Road, Coventry CV4 7SH, U.K.
| | - Nghia P. Truong
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
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3
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De Alwis Watuthanthrige N, Whitfield R, Harrisson S, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. Thermal Solution Depolymerization of RAFT Telechelic Polymers. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:806-811. [PMID: 38857492 PMCID: PMC11256755 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Thermal solution depolymerization is a promising low-temperature chemical recycling strategy enabling high monomer recovery from polymers made by controlled radical polymerization. However, current methodologies predominantly focus on the depolymerization of monofunctional polymers, limiting the material scope and depolymerization pathways. Herein, we report the depolymerization of telechelic polymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Notably, we observed a significant decrease in the molecular weight (Mn) of the polymers during monomer recovery, which contrasts the minimal Mn shift observed during the depolymerization of monofunctional polymers. Introducing Z groups at the center or both ends of the polymer resulted in distinct kinetic profiles, indicating partial depolymerization of the bifunctional polymers, as supported by mathematical modeling. Remarkably, telechelic polymers featuring R-terminal groups showed up to 68% improvement in overall depolymerization conversion compared to their monofunctional analogues, highlighting the potential of these materials in chemical recycling and the circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Simon Harrisson
- Laboratoire
de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, University of Bordeaux/Bordeaux-INP/CNRS UMR5629, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Nghia P. Truong
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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4
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Zhang W, Chen Z, Zhang Z. Photo-Deactivation Strategy for Switchable ATRP with the Assistance of Molecular Switches. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400162. [PMID: 38719215 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400162] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Light irradiation is an external stimulus, rapidly developed in switchable atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) via photo-activation methods in recent years. Herein, a photo-deactivation strategy is introduced to regulate ATRP with the assistance of photoswitchable hexaarylbiimidozole (HABI). Under visible light irradiation and in the presence of HABI, ATRP is greatly decelerated or quenched depending on the concentration of HABI. Interestingly, with visible light off, ATRP can proceed smoothly and follow a first-order kinetics. Moreover, photo-switchable ATRP alternatively with light off and on is demonstrated. Besides, the mechanism of photo-deactivation ATRP involving radical quenching is proposed in the presence of HABI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Zhang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Frontier Material Physics and Devices, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry Engineering and Materials Science of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhuan Chen
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry Engineering and Materials Science of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhengbiao Zhang
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, College of Chemistry Engineering and Materials Science of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
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5
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Parkatzidis K, Wang HS, Anastasaki A. Photocatalytic Upcycling and Depolymerization of Vinyl Polymers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402436. [PMID: 38466624 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Photocatalytic upcycling and depolymerization of vinyl polymers have emerged as promising strategies to combat plastic pollution and promote a circular economy. This mini review critically summarizes current developments in the upcycling and degradation of vinyl polymers including polystyrene and poly(meth)acrylates. Of these material classes, polymethacrylates possess the unique possibility to undergo a photocatalytic depolymerization back to monomer under thermodynamically favourable conditions, thus presenting significant advantages over traditional thermal strategies. Our perspective on current formidable challenges and potential future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostas Parkatzidis
- Department of Materials Science, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hyun Suk Wang
- Department of Materials Science, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Department of Materials Science, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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6
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Brió Pérez M, Wurm FR, de Beer S. On the Road to Circular Polymer Brushes: Challenges and Prospects. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:7249-7256. [PMID: 38556745 PMCID: PMC11008239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Polymer brushes are unique surface coatings that have been of high interest in research for the past decades due to their covalent tethering to surfaces and the broad spectrum of polymers that can be grafted to or grafted from various surfaces. Modification of surfaces with brushes may provide lubricious and/or antifouling properties, and they can also potentially be used in many application fields due to their high responsiveness toward certain stimuli. Generally, polymer brushes are long-lasting coatings, while their end-of-life has to date largely been neglected. Therefore, it is important to consider additional design methodologies to produce circular brushes, which will degrade after a certain period of time such that surfaces can be reused, and the potentially obtained monomers may be used again to synthesize new brushes. In this Perspective, we aim to tackle and understand the challenges to translate the knowledge on degradation and chemical recycling of bulk polymers toward circular polymer brushes. We summarized the recent developments on (bio)degradable polymer brushes and the challenges that are to be tackled toward their potential implementation as circular coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Brió Pérez
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik R. Wurm
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Sissi de Beer
- Department of Molecules &
Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of
Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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7
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Ko K, Lundberg DJ, Johnson AM, Johnson JA. Mechanism-Guided Discovery of Cleavable Comonomers for Backbone Deconstructable Poly(methyl methacrylate). J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:9142-9154. [PMID: 38526229 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The development of cleavable comonomers (CCs) with suitable copolymerization reactivity paves the way for the introduction of backbone deconstructability into polymers. Recent advancements in thionolactone-based CCs, exemplified by dibenzo[c,e]-oxepine-5(7H)-thione (DOT), have opened promising avenues for the selective deconstruction of multiple classes of vinyl polymers, including polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, and polystyrenics. To date, however, no thionolactone CC has been shown to copolymerize with methacrylates to an appreciable extent to enable polymer deconstruction. Here, we overcome this challenge through the design of a new class of benzyl-functionalized thionolactones (bDOTs). Guided by detailed mechanistic analyses, we find that the introduction of radical-stabilizing substituents to bDOTs enables markedly increased and tunable copolymerization reactivity with methyl methacrylate (MMA). Through iterative optimizations of the molecular structure, a specific bDOT, F-p-CF3PhDOT, is discovered to copolymerize efficiently with MMA. High molar mass deconstructable PMMA-based copolymers (dPMMA, Mn > 120 kDa) with low percentages of F-p-CF3PhDOT (1.8 and 3.8 mol%) are prepared using industrially relevant bulk free radical copolymerization conditions. The thermomechanical properties of dPMMA are similar to PMMA; however, the former is shown to degrade into low molar mass fragments (<6.5 kDa) under mild aminolysis conditions. This work presents the first example of a radical ring-opening CC capable of nearly random copolymerization with MMA without the possibility of cross-linking and provides a workflow for the mechanism-guided design of deconstructable copolymers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangwook Ko
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David J Lundberg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alayna M Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremiah A Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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8
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Mountaki SA, Whitfield R, Parkatzidis K, Antonopoulou MN, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. Chemical recycling of bromine-terminated polymers synthesized by ATRP. RSC APPLIED POLYMERS 2024; 2:275-283. [PMID: 38525379 PMCID: PMC10955525 DOI: 10.1039/d3lp00279a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Chemical recycling of polymers is one of the biggest challenges in materials science. Recently, remarkable achievements have been made by utilizing polymers prepared by controlled radical polymerization to trigger low-temperature depolymerization. However, in the case of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), depolymerization has nearly exclusively focused on chlorine-terminated polymers, even though the overwhelming majority of polymeric materials synthesized with this method possess a bromine end-group. Herein, we report an efficient depolymerization strategy for bromine-terminated polymethacrylates which employs an inexpensive and environmentally friendly iron catalyst (FeBr2/L). The effect of various solvents and the concentration of metal salt and ligand on the depolymerization are judiciously explored and optimized, allowing for a depolymerization efficiency of up to 86% to be achieved in just 3 minutes. Notably, the versatility of this depolymerization is exemplified by its compatibility with chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvents, and both Fe(ii) and Fe(iii) salts. This work significantly expands the scope of ATRP materials compatible with depolymerization and creates many future opportunities in applications where the depolymerization of bromine-terminated polymers is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Afroditi Mountaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Kostas Parkatzidis
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Maria-Nefeli Antonopoulou
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
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9
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Zhang S, Li R, An Z. Degradable Block Copolymer Nanoparticles Synthesized by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315849. [PMID: 38155097 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315849] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) combines polymerization and in situ self-assembly of block copolymers in one system and has become a widely used method to prepare block copolymer nanoparticles at high concentrations. The persistence of polymers in the environment poses a huge threat to the ecosystem and represents a significant waste of resources. There is an urgent need to develop novel chemical approaches to synthesize degradable polymers. To meet with this demand, it is crucial to install degradability into PISA nanoparticles. Most recently, degradable PISA nanoparticles have been synthesized by introducing degradation mechanisms into either shell-forming or core-forming blocks. This Minireview summarizes the development in degradable block copolymer nanoparticles synthesized by PISA, including shell-degradable, core-degradable, and all-degradable nanoparticles. Future development will benefit from expansion of polymerization techniques with new degradation mechanisms and adaptation of high-throughput approaches for both PISA syntheses and degradation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Zesheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
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10
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Hughes RW, Lott ME, Zastrow IS, Young JB, Maity T, Sumerlin BS. Bulk Depolymerization of Methacrylate Polymers via Pendent Group Activation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6217-6224. [PMID: 38382047 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we present an efficient approach for the depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymers synthesized via conventional radical polymerization. By incorporating low mol % phthalimide ester-containing monomers during the polymerization process, colorless and transparent polymers closely resembling unfunctionalized PMMA are obtained, which can achieve >95% reversion to methyl methacrylate (MMA). Notably, our catalyst-free bulk depolymerization method exhibits exceptional efficiency, even for high-molecular-weight polymers, including ultrahigh-molecular-weight (106-107 g/mol) PMMA, where near-quantitative depolymerization is achieved. Moreover, this approach yields polymer byproducts of significantly lower molecular weight, distinguishing it from bulk depolymerization methods initiated from chain ends. Furthermore, we extend our investigation to polymethacrylate networks, demonstrating high extents of depolymerization. This innovative depolymerization strategy offers promising opportunities for the development of sustainable polymethacrylate materials, holding great potential for various applications in polymer science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys W Hughes
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Megan E Lott
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Isabella S Zastrow
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - James B Young
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Tanmoy Maity
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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11
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Chin M, Yang T, Quirion KP, Lian C, Liu P, He J, Diao T. Implementing a Doping Approach for Poly(methyl methacrylate) Recycling in a Circular Economy. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5786-5792. [PMID: 38382057 PMCID: PMC10921398 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
To mitigate pollution by plastic waste, it is paramount to develop polymers with efficient recyclability while retaining desirable physical properties. A recyclable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is synthesized by incorporating a minimal amount of an α-methylstyrene (AMS) analogue into the polymer structure. This P(MMA-co-AMS) copolymer preserves the essential mechanical strength and optical clarity of PMMA, vital for its wide-ranging applications in various commercial and high-tech industries. Doping with AMS significantly enhances the thermal, catalyst-free depolymerization efficiency of PMMA, facilitating the recovery of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with high yield and purity at temperatures ranging from 150 to 210 °C, nearly 250 K lower than current industrial standards. Furthermore, the low recovery temperature permits the isolation of pure MMA from a mixture of assorted common plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason
T. Chin
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Tiangang Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Kevin P. Quirion
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Christina Lian
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Peng Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jie He
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Tianning Diao
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
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12
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Lohmann V, Jones GR, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. The thermodynamics and kinetics of depolymerization: what makes vinyl monomer regeneration feasible? Chem Sci 2024; 15:832-853. [PMID: 38239674 PMCID: PMC10793647 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05143a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Depolymerization is potentially a highly advantageous method of recycling plastic waste which could move the world closer towards a truly circular polymer economy. However, depolymerization remains challenging for many polymers with all-carbon backbones. Fundamental understanding and consideration of both the kinetics and thermodynamics are essential in order to develop effective new depolymerization systems that could overcome this problem, as the feasibility of monomer generation can be drastically altered by tuning the reaction conditions. This perspective explores the underlying thermodynamics and kinetics governing radical depolymerization of addition polymers by revisiting pioneering work started in the mid-20th century and demonstrates its connection to exciting recent advances which report depolymerization reaching near-quantitative monomer regeneration at much lower temperatures than seen previously. Recent catalytic approaches to monomer regeneration are also explored, highlighting that this nascent chemistry could potentially revolutionize depolymerization-based polymer recycling in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Lohmann
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Glen R Jones
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University 399 Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3152 Australia
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
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13
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Bellotti V, Wang HS, Truong NP, Simonutti R, Anastasaki A. Temporal Regulation of PET-RAFT Controlled Radical Depolymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202313232. [PMID: 37814385 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313232] [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: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
A photocatalytic RAFT-controlled radical depolymerization method is introduced for precisely conferring temporal control under visible light irradiation. By regulating the deactivation of the depropagating chains and suppressing thermal initiation, an excellent temporal control was enabled, exemplified by several consecutive "on" and "off" cycles. Minimal, if any, depolymerization could be observed during the dark periods while the polymer chain-ends could be efficiently re-activated and continue to depropagate upon re-exposure to light. Notably, favoring deactivation resulted in the gradual unzipping of polymer chains and a stepwise decrease in molecular weight over time. This synthetic approach constitutes a simple methodology to modulate temporal control during the chemical recycling of RAFT-synthesized polymers while offering invaluable mechanistic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bellotti
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
- Department of Material Science, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Via Roberto Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Hyun Suk Wang
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Simonutti
- Department of Material Science, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Via Roberto Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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14
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Parkatzidis K, Truong NP, Matyjaszewski K, Anastasaki A. Photocatalytic ATRP Depolymerization: Temporal Control at Low ppm of Catalyst Concentration. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21146-21151. [PMID: 37737835 PMCID: PMC10557129 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
A photocatalytic ATRP depolymerization is introduced that significantly suppresses the reaction temperature from 170 to 100 °C while enabling temporal regulation. In the presence of low-toxicity iron-based catalysts and under visible light irradiation, near-quantitative monomer recovery could be achieved (up to 90%), albeit with minimal temporal control. By employing ppm concentrations of either FeCl2 or FeCl3, the depolymerization during the dark periods could be completely eliminated, thus enabling temporal control and the possibility to modulate the rate by simply turning the light "on" and "off". Notably, our approach allowed preservation of the end-group fidelity throughout the reaction, could be carried out at high polymer loadings (up to 2M), and was compatible with various polymers and light sources. This methodology provides a facile, environmentally friendly, and temporally regulated route to chemically recycle ATRP-synthesized polymers, thus opening the door for further opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostas Parkatzidis
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Nghia P. Truong
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
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15
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Deng Z, Gillies ER. Emerging Trends in the Chemistry of End-to-End Depolymerization. JACS AU 2023; 3:2436-2450. [PMID: 37772181 PMCID: PMC10523501 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Over the past couple of decades, polymers that depolymerize end-to-end upon cleavage of their backbone or activation of a terminal functional group, sometimes referred to as "self-immolative" polymers, have been attracting increasing attention. They are of growing interest in the context of enhancing polymer degradability but also in polymer recycling as they allow monomers to be regenerated in a controlled manner under mild conditions. Furthermore, they are highly promising for applications as smart materials due to their ability to provide an amplified response to a specific signal, as a single sensing event is translated into the generation of many small molecules through a cascade of reactions. From a chemistry perspective, end-to-end depolymerization relies on the principles of self-immolative linkers and polymer ceiling temperature (Tc). In this article, we will introduce the key chemical concepts and foundations of the field and then provide our perspective on recent exciting developments. For example, over the past few years, new depolymerizable backbones, including polyacetals, polydisulfides, polyesters, polythioesters, and polyalkenamers, have been developed, while modern approaches to depolymerize conventional backbones such as polymethacrylates have also been introduced. Progress has also been made on the topological evolution of depolymerizable systems, including the introduction of fully depolymerizable block copolymers, hyperbranched polymers, and polymer networks. Furthermore, precision sequence-defined oligomers have been synthesized and studied for data storage and encryption. Finally, our perspectives on future opportunities and challenges in the field will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Deng
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Western
Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Elizabeth R. Gillies
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Western
Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
- Department
of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada
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16
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Häfliger F, Truong NP, Wang HS, Anastasaki A. Fate of the RAFT End-Group in the Thermal Depolymerization of Polymethacrylates. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1207-1212. [PMID: 37615956 PMCID: PMC10515620 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Thermal RAFT depolymerization has recently emerged as a promising methodology for the chemical recycling of polymers. However, while much attention has been given to the regeneration of monomers, the fate of the RAFT end-group after depolymerization has been unexplored. Herein, we identify the dominant small molecules derived from the RAFT end-group of polymethacrylates. The major product was found to be a unimer (DP = 1) RAFT agent, which is not only challenging to synthesize using conventional single-unit monomer insertion strategies, but also a highly active RAFT agent for methyl methacrylate, exhibiting faster consumption and yielding polymers with lower dispersities compared to the original, commercially available 2-cyano-2-propyl dithiobenzoate. Solvent-derived molecules were also identified predominantly at the beginning of the depolymerization, thus suggesting a significant mechanistic contribution from the solvent. Notably, the formation of both the unimer and the solvent-derived products remained consistent regardless of the RAFT agent, monomer, or solvent employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Häfliger
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nghia P. Truong
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, 399 Royal
Parade, Parkville, VIC 3152, Australia
| | - Hyun Suk Wang
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory
of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Whitfield R, Jones GR, Truong NP, Manring LE, Anastasaki A. Solvent-Free Chemical Recycling of Polymethacrylates made by ATRP and RAFT polymerization: High-Yielding Depolymerization at Low Temperatures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309116. [PMID: 37523176 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Although controlled radical polymerization is an excellent tool to make precision polymeric materials, reversal of the process to retrieve the starting monomer is far less explored despite the significance of chemical recycling. Here, we investigate the bulk depolymerization of RAFT and ATRP-synthesized polymers under identical conditions. RAFT-synthesized polymers undergo a relatively low-temperature solvent-free depolymerization back to monomer thanks to the partial in situ transformation of the RAFT end-group to macromonomer. Instead, ATRP-synthesized polymers can only depolymerize at significantly higher temperatures (>350 °C) through random backbone scission. To aid a more complete depolymerization at even lower temperatures, we performed a facile and quantitative end-group modification strategy in which both ATRP and RAFT end-groups were successfully converted to macromonomers. The macromonomers triggered a lower temperature bulk depolymerization with an onset at 150 °C yielding up to 90 % of monomer regeneration. The versatility of the methodology was demonstrated by a scalable depolymerization (≈10 g of starting polymer) retrieving 84 % of the starting monomer intact which could be subsequently used for further polymerization. This work presents a new low-energy approach for depolymerizing controlled radical polymers and creates many future opportunities as high-yielding, solvent-free and scalable depolymerization methods are sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, D-MATL, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Glen R Jones
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, D-MATL, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, D-MATL, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, D-MATL, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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