Issue 13, 2020

Mono- and dimeric zinc(ii) complexes for PLA production and degradation into methyl lactate – a chemical recycling method

Abstract

A series of well-defined mono- and dimeric Zn(II)-complexes were prepared and fully characterised by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Their application to the ROP of rac-LA to produce biocompatible atactic PLA was demonstrated in both solution and under industrially preferred melt conditions at 180 °C with a [rac-LA] : [Init] : [BnOH] of 3000 : 1 : 10. Exceptional activity was observed in all instances, albeit with generally poor molecular weight control (Mn) and broad dispersities (Đ), with dimers outperforming their monomeric counterparts. The propensity of all Zn(II)-complexes to facilitate PLA degradation into methyl lactate (Me-LA) under mild conditions is also demonstrated. Zn(2–3)2 were identified as the outstanding candidates, achieving full conversion to Me-LA within 8 h at 80 °C in THF. Further degradation kinetic analysis revealed Zn(2–3)2 to have kapp values of 0.63 ± 0.051 and 0.44 ± 0.029 h−1 for the rate of consumption of PLA respectively.

Graphical abstract: Mono- and dimeric zinc(ii) complexes for PLA production and degradation into methyl lactate – a chemical recycling method

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 Feb 2020
Accepted
25 Feb 2020
First published
27 Feb 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 2381-2389

Mono- and dimeric zinc(II) complexes for PLA production and degradation into methyl lactate – a chemical recycling method

J. Payne, P. McKeown, M. F. Mahon, E. A. C. Emanuelsson and M. D. Jones, Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 2381 DOI: 10.1039/D0PY00192A

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