Highly Reactive Cyclic Carbonates with a Fused Ring toward Functionalizable and Recyclable Polycarbonates

Monomer design plays an important role in the development of polymers with desired thermal properties and chemical recyclability. Here we prepared a class of seven-membered ring carbonates containing trans-cyclohexyl fused rings. These monomers showed excellent activity for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) with turnover frequency (TOF) up to 6 x 10(5) h(-1) and catalyst loading down to 50 ppm, which yielded high molecular-weight polycarbonates (M-n up to 673 kg/mol) with great thermostability (T-d > 300 degrees C). Ultimately, the resulting polycarbonates can completely depolymerize into their corresponding cyclic dimers that can repolymerize to synthesize the starting polymers in moderate yields, demonstrating a potential route to achieve chemical recycling. Postfunctionalization of the unsaturated polycarbonate was conducted through cross-linking reaction and click reaction under UV irradiation.

Automated summary

Monomer design is crucial for the development of polymers with desired thermal properties and chemical recyclability. In this study, a class of monomers with specific cyclic structures was prepared to obtain high-performance polycarbonates. The resulting polymers can be completely depolymerized and repolymerized, demonstrating a potential route for chemical recycling.