Chemical Upcycling of Polyolefins through C-H Functionalization

作者：Zhao, Yinsong; Li, Daoji; Jiang, Xuefeng^*

来源：European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2023, 26(39).

DOI：10.1002/ejoc.202300664

• chemical upcycling
• degradation
• C-H functionalization
• polyolefins
• post-functionalization

Polyolefins consist of abundant hydrophobic C-C and C-H bonds, and are considered as immensely potential untapped resources. Chemical upcycling offers a convenient and promising recycling strategy of polyolefins to produce newly-functionalized polymeric materials, and high-value added chemicals. The significant progress made in C-H functionalization reactions of alkane molecules provides new opportunities for improving polyolefin treatments. This review focuses on recent advancements in post-modification routes, specifically the introduction of C-C and C-X (X=O, N, S, halogens and etc.) bonds onto polyolefin chain backbones, as well as degradation models involving homogeneous C-H functionalization. By emphasizing these developments, we aim to highlight the potential of chemical upcycling for enhancing the treatment of polyolefins. @@@ This review summarizes the latest excellent achievements on chemical upcycling of polyolefins through C-H functionalization including the installations of C-C and C-X (X=O, N, S, halogens and etc.) bonds onto polymer backbones to form newly-functionalized polymeric materials and degradation reactions to provide high-value added chemicals, which offers new opportunities for better treatments of post-consumer polyolefin plastics.image