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. 2020 Aug 11;9(8):818-821.
doi: 10.1002/open.202000161. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End-of-Life Polycarbonates by an Iron Pincer Complex

Christoph Alberti  1 , Elena Fedorenko  1 , Stephan Enthaler  1
Affiliations

Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End-of-Life Polycarbonates by an Iron Pincer Complex

Christoph Alberti et al. ChemistryOpen. .

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.

Keywords: catalysis; depolymerization; green chemistry; polymers; recycling.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Chemical recycling concept for poly(bisphenol A carbonate) and poly(propylene carbonate).
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
Hydrogenative depolymerization of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) products (Reaction conditions: 1 aa or 1 ab (3.95 mmol, based on repeating unit of 1 a), 12 (2 mol%, 79.0 μmol based on the repeating unit of 1 a), THF (20 mL), 120 °C, 24 h, 45 bar H2).
Scheme 3
Scheme 3
Hydrogenative depolymerization of poly(propylene carbonate) (Reaction conditions: 1 b (9.84 mmol, based on repeating unit of 1 b), 12 (2 mol%, 197 μmol based on the repeating unit of 1 b), THF (40 mL), 120 °C, 24 h, 45 bar H2).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Plastics are typically composed of polymers and often other substances e. g. fillers, plasticizers, colorants.
    1. Sokka L., Antikainen R., Kauppi P. E., Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2007, 50, 457–488.
    1. Landfill storage depends strongly on local regulations, e. g. in the European Union landfill storage has been limited to the necessary minimum (Landfill directive; see for instance:
    1. Burnley S., Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2001, 32, 349–358;
    1. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/landfill_index.htm (25.03.2020);

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