Green and Versatile: Catalytic Production of Recyclable Co-polymers from Epoxides and Anhydrides

塑料是现代社会不可或缺的一部分，但由于其在垃圾填埋场和海洋环境中的持久性，其环境足迹受到越来越多的关注。因此，开发可生物降解和可回收的塑料是追求塑料循环经济的一个关键目标，这将继续使塑料造福社会，但不会产生负面的环境成本。该项目将开发含有酯键的共聚物的催化生产，例如环氧-酸酐共聚物。主要目的是通过开发不限于相容底物的新催化剂来提高底物范围。我们还将与多学科合作伙伴建立合作关系，以探索这些共聚物在现实世界中的应用。

Plastics are an indispensable to modern-day society, yet their environmental footprint has come under increased scrutiny owing to their persistence in landfill and marine environments. Therefore the development of biodegradable and recyclable plastics is a key objective in the pursuit of a circular economy of plastics, that will continue to allow plastics to benefit society but without the negative environmental cost. This project will be to develop the catalytic production of co-polymers that contain ester-linkages, exemplified by epoxide-anhydride co-polymers. The principal aim will be to enhance the substrate scope by developing new catalysts that are not limited in compatible substrates. We will also establish collaborations with multi-disciplinary partners to probe the use of these co-polymers in real-world applications.