Transesterification of Methyl-10-undecenoate and Poly(ethylene adipate) Catalyzed by (Cyclopentadienyl)titanium Trichlorides as Model Chemical Conversions of Plant Oils and Acid-, Base-Free Chemical Recycling of Aliphatic Polyesters

Abstract

Highly active and exclusive transesterifications of methyl 10-undecenoate with alcohols (cyclohexanemethanol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 10-undecen-1-ol, 3-hexanol) have been demonstrated by Cp′TiCl3 (Cp′ = Cp, C5Me5) at 100–120 °C. The CpTiCl3 enabled depolymerization of poly(ethylene adipate) by the transesterification (>99% conv., 0.25–0.5 mol % Ti) at 120 °C; the depolymerization completed after 6 h at 150 °C (0.5 mol % Ti).