Unprecedently high dissolution and depolymerization of hard-to-dissolve polyurethane in deep eutectic solvents under low-energy white light

Metal salt-based DES dissolves polyurethane with a remarkable 70% yield and promotes depolymerization under mild, sustainable conditions. The Lewis-acidic nature of ZnCl 2 plays a key role in cleaving otherwise hard-to-break polyurethane bonds.