2025/03/11 by Madeleine L. Smith, Thomas M. McGuire, Ryan W. F. Kerr +1 · 1 voice
Chemical Engineering · Chemistry · Materials Science · #Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis #Organometallic Complex Synthesis and Catalysis #biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/anie.202423478
openalex publication_date 2025/03/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Cyclic anhydride and epoxide ring-opening copolymerization is a versatile and controlled route to make polyesters, gaining attention in different application sectors. But so far, the chemical recycling of these polyesters to cyclic monomers is under-explored. Here, the catalytic chemical recycling of aliphatic polyesters to selectively form 16- and 18-membered lactones is presented. The recycling reactions are catalyzed using commercial tin(II) octoate and conducted in the polymer melt (230 °C) resulting in high conversions to the macrolactones (>90%). The recycled macrolactones undergo catalyzed ring-opening polymerizations to produce polyesters with equivalent properties to the virgin materials.