Why δ-Valerolactone Polymerizes and γ-Butyrolactone Does Not
TL;DR: The overall results indicate that the lack of polymerizability of gamma-butyrolactone should be attributed to the low strain of the ring, which shows much less geometric distortion in the ester group than delta-valerolactone, and the notable stability of the coiled conformations found in model compounds of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate.
Abstract: γ-Butyrolactone, unlike δ-valerolactone, does not polymerize despite a strain energy of ∼8 kcal mol-1 which could be relieved by opening the s-cis lactone ester bond to an s-trans ester bond in the polymer. To explain this anomaly, we have applied quantum mechanical methods to study the thermochemistry involved in the ring-opening reactions of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone, the conformational preferences of model molecules that mimic their corresponding homopolyesters, and the variation of enthalpy associated to the polymerizability of such two cyclic lactones. The overall results indicate that the lack of polymerizability of γ-butyrolactone should be attributed to the low strain of the ring, which shows much less geometric distortion in the ester group than δ-valerolactone, and the notable stability of the coiled conformations found in model compounds of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate.
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TL;DR: This review provides a system-level analysis of sustainable polymers and outlines key criteria with respect to the feedstocks the polymers are derived from, the manner in which thepolymers are generated, and the end-of-use options.
Abstract: The replacement of current petroleum-based plastics with sustainable alternatives is a crucial but formidable challenge for the modern society. Catalysis presents an enabling tool to facilitate the development of sustainable polymers. This review provides a system-level analysis of sustainable polymers and outlines key criteria with respect to the feedstocks the polymers are derived from, the manner in which the polymers are generated, and the end-of-use options. Specifically, we define sustainable polymers as a class of materials that are derived from renewable feedstocks and exhibit closed-loop life cycles. Among potential candidates, aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates are promising materials due to their renewable resources and excellent biodegradability. The development of renewable monomers, the versatile synthetic routes to convert these monomers to polyesters and polycarbonate, and the different end-of-use options for these polymers are critically reviewed, with a focus on recent advances in c...
574 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a critical review article captures some selected highlights of the emerging area of recyclable "green polymers" by focusing on the major progress made and the technical and environmental benefits obtained in the development of repurposing and depolymerization processes for chemical recycling of polymers at the end of their useful life.
431 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that the ROP of γ-BL can, with a suitable catalyst, proceed smoothly to high conversions under ambient pressure to produce PγBL materials with a number-average molecular weight up to 30 kg mol(-1) and with controlled linear and/or cyclic topologies.
Abstract: Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) is a powerful synthetic methodology for the chemical synthesis of technologically important biodegradable aliphatic polyesters from cyclic esters or lactones. However, the bioderived five-membered γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL) is commonly referred as ‘non-polymerizable’ because of its low strain energy. The chemical synthesis of poly(γ-butyrolactone) (PγBL) through the ROP process has been realized only under ultrahigh pressure (20,000 atm, 160 °C) and only produces oligomers. Here we report that the ROP of γ-BL can, with a suitable catalyst, proceed smoothly to high conversions (90%) under ambient pressure to produce PγBL materials with a number-average molecular weight up to 30 kg mol–1 and with controlled linear and/or cyclic topologies. Remarkably, both linear and cyclic PγBLs can be recycled back into the monomer in quantitative yield by simply heating the bulk materials at 220 °C (linear polymer) or 300 °C (cyclic polymer) for one hour, which thereby demonstrates the complete recyclability of PγBL. Bio-derived γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL) is commonly referred to as ‘non-polymerizable’ due to its low strain energy. Now it has been shown that ring-opening polymerization of γ-BL can in fact proceed to high conversions under ambient pressure with a suitable catalyst, producing high-molecular-weight polymers with controlled topologies and complete recyclability.
394 citations
TL;DR: A polymer system based on γ-butyrolactone (GBL) with a trans-ring fusion at the α and β positions renders the commonly considered as nonpolymerizable GBL ring readily polymerizable at room temperature under solvent-free conditions to yield a high–molecular weight polymer.
Abstract: The development of chemically recyclable polymers offers a solution to the end-of-use issue of polymeric materials and provides a closed-loop approach toward a circular materials economy. However, polymers that can be easily and selectively depolymerized back to monomers typically require low-temperature polymerization methods and also lack physical properties and mechanical strengths required for practical uses. We introduce a polymer system based on γ-butyrolactone (GBL) with a trans-ring fusion at the α and β positions. Such trans-ring fusion renders the commonly considered as nonpolymerizable GBL ring readily polymerizable at room temperature under solvent-free conditions to yield a high–molecular weight polymer. The polymer has enhanced thermostability and can be repeatedly and quantitatively recycled back to its monomer by thermolysis or chemolysis. Mixing of the two enantiomers of the polymer generates a highly crystalline supramolecular stereocomplex.
361 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight the plastics derived from common four-, five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered cyclic esters by covering synthetic strategies, material properties, and particularly, chemical recyclability.
189 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, a semi-empirical exchange correlation functional with local spin density, gradient, and exact exchange terms was proposed. But this functional performed significantly better than previous functionals with gradient corrections only, and fits experimental atomization energies with an impressively small average absolute deviation of 2.4 kcal/mol.
Abstract: Despite the remarkable thermochemical accuracy of Kohn–Sham density‐functional theories with gradient corrections for exchange‐correlation [see, for example, A. D. Becke, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 2155 (1992)], we believe that further improvements are unlikely unless exact‐exchange information is considered. Arguments to support this view are presented, and a semiempirical exchange‐correlation functional containing local‐spin‐density, gradient, and exact‐exchange terms is tested on 56 atomization energies, 42 ionization potentials, 8 proton affinities, and 10 total atomic energies of first‐ and second‐row systems. This functional performs significantly better than previous functionals with gradient corrections only, and fits experimental atomization energies with an impressively small average absolute deviation of 2.4 kcal/mol.
87,732 citations
TL;DR: Numerical calculations on a number of atoms, positive ions, and molecules, of both open- and closed-shell type, show that density-functional formulas for the correlation energy and correlation potential give correlation energies within a few percent.
Abstract: A correlation-energy formula due to Colle and Salvetti [Theor. Chim. Acta 37, 329 (1975)], in which the correlation energy density is expressed in terms of the electron density and a Laplacian of the second-order Hartree-Fock density matrix, is restated as a formula involving the density and local kinetic-energy density. On insertion of gradient expansions for the local kinetic-energy density, density-functional formulas for the correlation energy and correlation potential are then obtained. Through numerical calculations on a number of atoms, positive ions, and molecules, of both open- and closed-shell type, it is demonstrated that these formulas, like the original Colle-Salvetti formulas, give correlation energies within a few percent.
84,646 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a split-valence extended gaussian basis set was used to obtain the LCAO-MO-SCF energies of closed shell species with two non-hydrogen atoms.
Abstract: Polarization functions are added in two steps to a split-valence extended gaussian basis set: d-type gaussians on the first row atoms C. N, O and F and p-type gaussians on hydrogen. The same d-exponent of 0.8 is found to be satisfactory for these four atoms and the hydrogen p-exponent of 1.1 is adequate in their hydrides. The energy lowering due to d functions is found to depend on the local symmetry around the heavy atom. For the particular basis used, the energy lowerings due to d functions for various environments around the heavy atom are tabulated. These bases are then applied to a set of molecules containing up to two heavy atoms to obtain their LCAO-MO-SCF energies. The mean absolute deviation between theory and experiment (where available) for heats of hydrogenation of closed shell species with two non-hydrogen atoms is 4 kcal/mole for the basis set with full polarization. Estimates of hydrogenation energy errors at the Hartree-Fock limit, based on available calculations, are given.
12,669 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a perturbation theory for treating a system of n electrons in which the Hartree-Fock solution appears as the zero-order approximation was developed, and it was shown by this development that the first order correction for the energy and the charge density of the system is zero.
Abstract: A perturbation theory is developed for treating a system of n electrons in which the Hartree-Fock solution appears as the zero-order approximation. It is shown by this development that the first order correction for the energy and the charge density of the system is zero. The expression for the second-order correction for the energy greatly simplifies because of the special property of the zero-order solution. It is pointed out that the development of the higher approximation involves only calculations based on a definite one-body problem.
12,067 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a method is presented which utilizes the calculation of the molecular electrostatic potential or the electric field at a discrete number of preselected points to evaluate the environmental effects of a solvent on the properties of a molecular system.
7,618 citations