Dual Feedstock Upcycling of α-Methylstyrene-Doped Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Biomass via the Telescope of Depolymerization and Diels-Alder Reaction

Rui Zhang, Mason T. Chin, Tianning Diao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Nearly 90% of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is not recycled and instead ends up in landfills. Conventional pyrolysis of PMMA recovers impure methyl methacrylate (MMA) with low economic value. Here, we present a telescoped dual upcycling strategy that integrates PMMA depolymerization, Diels-Alder cycloaddition, and aromatization to convert AMS-doped PMMA and biomass-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) into 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (pseudocumene), a valuable chemical feedstock. BBr3 proved effective in promoting the challenging Diels-Alder reaction between MMA and DMF under high pressure of argon.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalOrganic Letters
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2025

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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