Chemical recycling of polyenaminones by transamination reaction via amino–enaminone polymerisation/depolymerisation

Abstract

Abstract Novel oligo- and polyenaminones with Mw\u202f∼\u202f3000\u202fDa were prepared in excellent yields by amino–enaminone ‘click’ polymerisation of 1,3- and 1,4-bis[3-(dimethylamino)acryloyl]arenes with 1,3- and 1,4-phenylenediamine. The obtained oligomers and polymers were depolymerised quantitatively to the starting bis-enaminones and diamines by treatment with excess dimethylamine in ethanol at 50\u202f°C. This simple polymerisation/depolymerisation method allows for a closed-loop recycling of polyenaminone-based materials. UV light absorbance at wavelengths below 470\u202fnm indicates promising optical properties of these polymers.