Efficient and Selective Chemical Recycling of CO<sub>2</sub>‐Based Alicyclic Polycarbonates via Catalytic Pyrolysis
Yan Yu, Bang Gao, Ye Liu, Xiao‐Bing Lu
Abstract
Abstract Chemical recycling of polymers to their constituent monomers is the foremost challenge in building a sustainable circular plastics economy. Here, we report a strategy for highly efficient depolymerization of various CO 2 ‐based alicyclic polycarbonates to epoxide monomers in solvent‐free conditions by a simple Cr III ‐Salen complex mediated catalytic pyrolysis process. The chemical recycling of the widely studied poly(cyclohexene carbonate) exhibits excellent reactivity (TOF up to 3000 h −1 , 0.1 mol % catalyst loading) and high epoxide monomer selectivity (>99 %). Mechanistic investigation reveals that the process proceeds in a sequential fashion via a trans ‐carbonate intermediate.
Topics & Concepts
Alicyclic compoundDepolymerizationEpoxideMonomerCatalysisSelectivityChemistryReactivity (psychology)Organic chemistryPyrolysisPolymerSolventPolymer chemistryPolymerizationCarbonateGreen chemistryMaterials scienceReaction mechanismMedicineAlternative medicinePathologyCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysisbiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesChemistry and Chemical Engineering