Chemically recyclable alternating copolymers with low polydispersity from conjugated/aromatic aldehydes and vinyl ethers: selective degradation to another monomer at ambient temperature

Abstract

A highly efficient chemical recycling system, involving repetitive cycles of precision synthesis and selective degradation of product copolymers, was developed based on controlled cationic alternating copolymerization of conjugated/aromatic aldehydes, such as cinnamaldehyde (CinA) and (E,E)-5-phenylpenta-(2,4)-dienal (PPDE), via exclusive 1,2-carbonyl addition with vinyl ethers (VEs).