Full valorisation of waste PET into dimethyl terephthalate and cyclic arylboronic esters

Abstract Developing efficient and cost-effective methodologies for high value-added conversion of waste plastic delivers substantial environmental and economic benefits. Herein, we develop a novel approach utilizing boric acid in the methanolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to derive pure dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and boronic acid esters through in-situ capture of ethylene glycol (EG). It not only upcycles waste PET but also eliminates intricate EG purification processes. Catalyzed by magnalium-aluminum-layered double oxides (Mg4Al1-LDO), this method achieved 100% conversions of PET with 96% and 100% yields of arylboronic esters and DMT, respectively. Kinetic studies and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the pivotal role of the monodentate methoxy species, generated through the interaction of medium basic Mg–O ion pairs and methanol. This method demonstrates applicability for the upcycling of assorted discarded PET wastes, polyesters, and polycarbonates with EG units, highlighting its potential as a comprehensive solution for waste plastic management.