Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End‐of‐Life Polycarbonates by an Iron Pincer Complex
Christoph Alberti, E. A. Fedorenko, Stephan Enthaler
Abstract
Chemical recycling processes can contribute to a resource-efficient plastic economy. Herein, a procedure for the iron-catalyzed hydrogenation of the carbonate function of end-of-life polycarbonates under simultaneous depolymerization is presented. The use of a straightforward iron pincer complex leads to high rate of depolymerization of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) and poly(propylene carbonate) yielding the monomers bisphenol A and 1,2-propanediol, respectively, as products under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the iron complex was able to depolymerize polycarbonates containing goods and mixture of plastics containing polycarbonates.
Topics & Concepts
DepolymerizationBisphenol APolycarbonateMonomerChemistryPolymer chemistryCarbonatePincer movementPropylene carbonatePolymerOrganic chemistryCatalysisEpoxyElectrochemistryPhysical chemistryElectrodebiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysisMicroplastics and Plastic Pollution