English Abstract

Vinylidene Monomers Designed for Chemical Recycling

Ryo KAWATANI *1
Takumi NODA *1
Yosuke AKAE *1 *2
Yasuhiro KOHSAKA *1 *3
*1:Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano, Japan
*2:Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
*3:Research Initiative for Supra-Materials, Shinshu University
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2022),95(11),319-325 General Review in Japanese

Marine pollution caused by plastic wastes increased the demand for recyclable polymer materials. In this review, we focus on the chemical recycle of vinyl polymers and polyesters, as they dominate the plastics market. Despite the easy procedure of synthesis, vinyl polymers are difficult to decompose due to the carbon backbone. Therefore, selective regeneration of monomers from polyolefins are difficult. In contrast, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared by controlled radical polymerization can be depolymerized to regenerate the monomer. On the other hand, we have developed new vinyl polymers that efficiently regenerate their monomer precursors by main chain scission starting from the hydrolysis of the side group. For chemical recycling of polyesters, quantitative scission of ester bond is required. Recycling of PET has already been commercialized, but a more efficient method of the ester bond cleavage is required. Therefore, easily recyclable polyesters have been developed. In contrast, we have reported new unsaturated polyesters with chemical recyclability that recovered the monomer species. Instead of the ester bond cleavage, conjugate substitution reaction of the allyl-substituted methacrylate skeletons in unsaturated polyesters were performed under ambient condition.

Keywords: Conjugate Substitution Reaction, Allyl Substituted Methacrylate, Degradable Polymer, Dehydroaspirin, Cyclic Ketene Acetal Ester, 3-methylene Phthalide