We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Performance‐Advantaged Stereoregular Recyclable Plastics Enabled by Aluminum‐Catalytic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Dithiolactone.
- Authors
Zhu, Yinuo; Li, Maosheng; Wang, Yanchao; Wang, Xianhong; Tao, Youhua
- Abstract
Chemically recyclable polymers that can depolymerize into their constituent monomers are attractive candidates to replace non‐recyclable petroleum‐derived plastics. However, the physical properties and mechanical strengths of depolymerizable polymers are commonly insufficient for practical applications. Here we demonstrate that by proper ligand design and modification, aluminum complexes can catalyse stereoretentive ring‐opening polymerization of dithiolactone, yielding highly isotactic polythioesters with molar masses up to 45.5 kDa. This material can form crystalline stereocomplex with a Tm of 94.5 °C, and exhibits mechanical performances comparable to petroleum‐based low density polyethylene. Exposure of the polythioester to aluminum precatalyst used to synthesized it resulted in depolymerization to pristine chiral dithiolactone. Experimental and computational studies suggest that aluminum complexes have appropriate binding affinity with sulfide propagating species, thereby avoiding catalyst poisoning and minimizing epimerization reactions, which has not been accessible using other metal catalysts. Overall, aluminum catalysis provides access to performance‐advantaged stereoregular recyclable plastics as a promising alternative to petrochemical plastics, thus incentivizing improved plastic sustainability.
- Subjects
RING-opening polymerization; LOW density polyethylene; CATALYST poisoning; PLASTICS; METAL catalysts; MOLAR mass; METAL sulfides
- Publication
Angewandte Chemie, 2023, Vol 135, Issue 24, p1
- ISSN
0044-8249
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1002/ange.202302898