Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is selectively depolymerized by a carbon-supported single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst to terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene. The solventless reactions are most efficient under 1 atmosphere of H2. Here, the catalyst exhibits high stability and can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity. Waste beverage bottle PET or a PET + polypropylene (PP) mixture (simulating the bottle + cap) proceeds at 260 °C with complete PET deconstruction and quantitative PTA isolation. Mechanistic studies with a model diester, 1,2-ethanediol dibenzoate, suggest the reaction proceeds by initial retro-hydroalkoxylation/β-C–O scission and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the vinyl benzoate intermediate.
@article{osti_2480919,
author = {Kratish, Yosi and Li, Jiaqi and Liu, Shanfu and Gao, Yanshan and Marks, Tobin J.},
title = {Polyethylene Terephthalate Deconstruction Catalyzed by a Carbon–Supported Single–Site Molybdenum–Dioxo Complex},
annote = {Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is selectively depolymerized by a carbon-supported single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst to terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene. The solventless reactions are most efficient under 1 atmosphere of H2. Here, the catalyst exhibits high stability and can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity. Waste beverage bottle PET or a PET + polypropylene (PP) mixture (simulating the bottle + cap) proceeds at 260 °C with complete PET deconstruction and quantitative PTA isolation. Mechanistic studies with a model diester, 1,2-ethanediol dibenzoate, suggest the reaction proceeds by initial retro-hydroalkoxylation/β-C–O scission and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the vinyl benzoate intermediate.},
doi = {10.1002/anie.202007423},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2480919},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)},
issn = {ISSN 1433-7851},
number = {45},
volume = {59},
place = {United States},
publisher = {Wiley},
year = {2020},
month = {07}}