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Updated: May 2, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Controlled hydrogenative depolymerization of polyesters and polycarbonates catalyzed by ruthenium(II) PNN pincer
Eric M Krall1, Tyler W Klein, Ryan J Andersen
1Northland College, 1411 Ellis Ave., Ashland, Wisconsin 54806, USA. nrobertson@northland.edu.
Abstract:
Ruthenium(II) PNN complexes depolymerize many polyesters into diols and polycarbonates into glycols plus methanol via hydrogenation. Notably, polyesters with two methylene units between ester linkages depolymerize to carboxylic acids rather than diols. This methodology represents a new approach for producing useful chemicals from waste plastics.
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