Upgrading Polyurethanes into Functional Ureas through the Asymmetric Chemical Deconstruction of Carbamates.

ABSTRACT: The importance of systematic and efficient recycling of all forms of plastic is no longer a matter for debate. Constituting the sixth most produced polymer family worldwide, polyurethanes, which are used in a broad variety of applications (buildings, electronics, adhesives, sealants, etc.), are particularly important to recycle. In this study, polyurethanes are selectively recycled to obtain high value-added molecules. It is demonstrated that depolymerization reactions performed with secondary amines selectively cleave the C-O bond of the urethane group, while primary amines unselectively break C-O and C-N bonds. The selective cleavage of C-O bonds, catalyzed by an acid:base mixture, led to the initial polyol and a functional diurea in several hours to a few minutes for both model polyuret

SUBMITTER: Olazabal I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9832924 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature