Recyclable polymer functionalization via end-group modification and block/random copolymerization

Recyclable polymers offer a great opportunity to address the environmental issues of plastics. Herein, functionalization of recyclable polymers, poly ((R)-3,4-trans six-membered ring-fused GBL) (P ((R)-M)), were reported via end-group modifications and block/random copolymerizations. Di-n-butylmagnesium was selected to catalyze ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of (R)-M in the presence of a series of functional alcohols as the initiators. Block/random copolymerizations of (R)-M and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), L-lactide (L-LA) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) were performed to control the onset decomposition temperature (T_d), melting temperature (T_m) and glass transition temperature (T_g). These functionalized recyclable polymers would find broad applications as the sustainable plastics.