Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...

Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis

Overview
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

In a dehydration reaction, a hydroxyl group in an alcohol is eliminated along with the hydrogen from an adjacent carbon. Here, the products are an alkene and a molecule of water. Dehydration of alcohols is generally achieved by heating in the presence of an acid catalyst. While the dehydration of primary alcohols requires high temperatures and acid concentrations, secondary and tertiary alcohols can lose a water molecule under relatively mild conditions.

Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis

Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis

Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Chemical Recycling of End-of-Life Poly(lactide) via Zinc-Catalyzed Depolymerization and Polymerization.

ChemistryOpen·2020

Same author

Chemical Recycling of End-of-Life Poly(lactide) via Zinc-Catalyzed Depolymerization and Polymerization.

ChemistryOpen·2020

Same author

Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End-of-Life Polycarbonates by an Iron Pincer Complex.

ChemistryOpen·2020

Same author

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrogenative Degradation of End-of-Life Poly(lactide) to Produce 1,2-Propanediol as Platform Chemical.

ChemistryOpen·2020

Same author

Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End-of-Life Poly-(Bisphenol A Carbonate) Catalyzed by a Ruthenium-MACHO-Complex.

ChemistryOpen·2019

Same author

Recycling of End-of-Life Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) via Alkali Metal Halide-Catalyzed Phenolysis.

ChemistryOpen·2019

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Low-temperature iron-catalyzed depolymerization of polyethers.

Stephan Enthaler¹, Maik Weidauer

¹Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Chemistry, Cluster of Excellence Unifying Concepts in Catalysis, Strasse des 17. Juni 115, 10623 Berlin, Germany. stephan.enthaler@tu-berlin.de

|May 29, 2012

Summary

Iron salts efficiently catalyze polyether depolymerization at low temperatures, producing valuable chloroesters. These chloroesters serve as versatile starting materials for synthesizing novel polymers, highlighting a sustainable chemical pathway.

More Related Videos

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Catalysis
Organic Synthesis

Background:

Polyethers are widely used polymers with diverse applications.
Efficient depolymerization methods are needed for polymer recycling and synthesis of new materials.
Iron catalysis offers a potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the iron-catalyzed depolymerization of various polyethers.
To identify the products formed during the depolymerization process.
To evaluate the catalytic activity and selectivity of iron salts under mild conditions.

Main Methods:

Studying the depolymerization of different polyether types using iron salts as catalysts.
Analyzing the reaction products, specifically chloroesters, using analytical techniques.
Optimizing reaction conditions, including temperature and catalyst loading, to achieve high activity and selectivity.

Main Results:

Iron salts demonstrated extraordinary catalytic activity and selectivity in polyether depolymerization.
The primary products of the depolymerization were identified as chloroesters.
Efficient depolymerization was achieved at low temperatures, indicating a mild reaction pathway.

Conclusions:

Iron-catalyzed depolymerization is a highly effective method for breaking down polyethers.
The resulting chloroesters are valuable intermediates for the synthesis of new polymers.
This research presents a promising route for sustainable polymer chemistry and resource utilization.