A catalytic approach to the valorization of polyesters and biogenic waste for the production of amines

Abstract

Despite the numerous applications of polymers in human life, their excessive use has caused serious environmental hazards. Among polymer recycling methods, chemical recycling offers a streamlined approach to polymer degradation by enabling depolymerization without compromising functionality. Specifically, hydrogenolysis of polymers, a depolymerization technique that utilizes hydrogen to cleave bonds, has emerged as a powerful strategy for depolymerization, facilitating the upcycling of plastics into high-value chemicals. Previous research in this area has predominantly focused on noble metal catalysts, while the potential of base metals remains unexplored. Herein, we propose a cobalt-based hydrogenative amination approach for the depolymerization of polyesters to versatile diamines as well as amino alcohols. This strategy can also be applied to the one-pot synthesis of fatty amines from used cooking oil. The current system opens new avenues for the upcycling of waste into valuable amines, providing a viable solution to plastic pollution and a way to utilize waste as a resource.