A Concept for Recyclable Cross-Linked Polymers: Topologically Networked Polyrotaxane Capable of Undergoing Reversible Assembly and Disassembly

✍ Scribed by Tomoya Oku; Yoshio Furusho; Toshikazu Takata

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 122 KB
• Volume: 43
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0044-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.200353046

✦ Synopsis

The development of methodologies for material recycling and/or chemical recycling of cross-linked polymers such as thermosetting resins and rubbers is one of the most important issues in polymer and material science. [1] Because of the difficulty in developing suitable recycling methodologies due to the network structure of polymers, a new recycling concept has long been sought after. Reversible cross-linking-decrosslinking may constitute an effective recycling protocol. We have previously shown a concept for the "recycling of crosslinked polymers" by the application of reversible acidcatalyzed ring-opening polymerization of spiroorthoester. [2] The formation and decomposition of cross-linked polymers was reversible enough to recover the original monomers in high yields. [3] Although a number of approaches to the recycling of cross-linked polymers have been reported to date, [1, 4] much work remains to be done to develop new concepts and materials based on this protocol.

We have recently unveiled a new synthetic method for [2] and [3]rotaxanes based on the concept of "dynamic covalent chemistry", [5] which involves the thermodynamic control of [*] T.