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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Efficient conversion of polyamides to ω-hydroxyalkanoic acids: a new method for chemical recycling of waste plastics
Akio Kamimura1, Kosuke Ikeda, Shuzo Suzuki
1Department Applied Molecular Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube 755-8611 (Japan), Fax: (+81) 836-85-9231. ak10@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
An efficient transformation of polyamides to ω-hydroxy alkanoic acids was achieved. Treatment of nylon-12 with supercritical MeOH in the presence of glycolic acid gave methyl ω-hydroxydodecanoate in 85% yield and the alcohol/alkene selectivity in the product was enhanced to up to 9.5:1. The use of (18)O-enriched acetic acid for the reaction successfully introduced an (18)O atom at the alcoholic OH group in the product. This strategy may provide a new and economical solution for the chemical recycling of waste plastics.
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