Release Time:2019-03-12  Hits:

Indexed by: Journal Article

Date of Publication: 2017-04-18

Journal: ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Included Journals: PubMed、EI、SCIE

Volume: 56

Issue: 17

Page Number: 4862-4866

ISSN: 1433-7851

Key Words: carbon dioxide; depolymerization; polycarbonates; recyclable polymers; temperature switch

Abstract: It is of great significance to depolymerize used or waste polymers to recover the starting monomers suitable for repolymerization reactions that reform recycled materials no different from the virgin polymer. Herein, we report a novel recyclable plastic: degradable polycarbonate synthesized by dinuclear chromium-complex-mediated copolymerization of CO2 with 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3,4-epoxy pyrrolidine, a meso-epoxide. Notably, the novel polycarbonate with more than 99% carbonate linkages could be recycled back into the epoxide monomer in quantitative yield under mild reaction conditions. Remarkably, the copolymerization/ depolymerization processes can be achieved by the ON/OFF reversible temperature switch, and recycled several times without any change in the epoxide monomer and copolymer. These characteristics accord well with the concept of perfectly sustainable polymers.