Highly efficient hydrogenative depolymerisation of polycaprolactone to 1,6-hexanediol

Abstract

We report here our study on the development of an efficient process to make 1,6-hexanediol from the hydrogenation of polycaprolactone assisted by ethanolysis. Using a ruthenium SNS pincer catalyst, a record high turnover number of 19 600 with 98% yield of 1,6-hexanediol is obtained at 80 °C and 60 bar H₂ pressure. The reported method has environmental advantages over the conventional process for the production of 1,6-hexanediol, which emits a significant amount of nitrous oxide greenhouse gas.