Chemical upcycling of poly(lactide) plastic waste to lactate ester, lactide and new poly(lactide) under Mg-catalysis condition

Chemical upcycling of end-of-life poly(lactide) plastics to lactide, lactate ester and new poly(lactide) has been achieved by using magnesium bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] [Mg(HMDS)2] as promoter. Mg(HMDS)2 showed high efficiency in l-lactide polymerization and poly(lactide) depolymerization. Mg(HMDS)2/Ph2CHOH catalytic system displayed high ring-opening selectivity and the characteristic of immortal polymerization. Taking advantage of transesterification, depolymerizations of end-of-life poly(lactide) plastics to lactate ester (polymer to value-added chemicals) and lactide (polymer to monomer) were achieved with high yields. Besides, a new “depolymerization-repolymerization” strategy was proposed to directly transform poly(lactide) into new poly(lactide). This work provides a theoretical basis for the design of polymerization and depolymerization catalysts and promotes the development of degradable polymers.