Work

Oxygen‐Tolerant ATRP Depolymerization Enabled by an External Radical Source

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although the chemical recycling of polymers synthesized by controlled radical polymerization enables the recovery of pristine monomer at low temperatures, it operates efficiently under strictly anaerobic conditions. Instead, oxygen‐tolerant depolymerizations are scarce, and are either restricted to the use of a boiling co‐solvent or are performed in closed vessels, often suffering from low conversions. Here, an open‐vessel, oxygen‐tolerant depolymerization of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)‐synthesized polymers is introduced, leading to high percentages of monomer regeneration (>90% depolymerization efficiency). Dissolved oxygen is eliminated by either utilizing high catalyst loadings, or lower catalyst loadings combined with a radical initiator. Notably, the methodology is compatible with various solvents (i.e., anisole, 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene (TCB), 1,2‐dichlorobenzene (DCB), etc.) and a range of commercially available ligands including tris 2‐(dimethylamino)ethylamine (Me 6 TREN) and tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA), as well as more inexpensive alternatives such as tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine (TREN) and N,N,N‘,N‘‘,N‘‘ ‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA).

Source: Macromolecular Rapid Communications

DOI: 10.1002/marc.202401067

Authors: Stella Afroditi Mountaki, Richard Whitfield, Athina Anastasaki

Institutions: ETH Zurich, Institute of Polymers

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,550