(154o) Depolymerizing PET Via "Imidazolysis": A New Cleavage Strategy to Obtain Versatile Intermediates

The overgrowing plastic accumulation on earth has driven scientists to come up with long-term, sustainable solutions to this issue. Chemical recycling of plastics is considered to be the most effective approach to breaking down plastics and obtaining new products. The increasing manufacturing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a synthetic polyester commonly used as beverage bottles, is receiving significant interest for upcycling to higher value products. Herein, we demonstrate the chemical cleavage ("olysis") of PET with a range of imidazole compounds directly in the melt phase. Through imidazolysis of PET, a diverse set of imidazoyl carbamates has been obtained, which can be further reacted to form polymers or small molecules. We outline the reaction mechanisms and conditions, and how some of these compounds can be used.