Readily Degradable and Recyclable High Molecular Weight Thiosalicylic Acid-based Copolyesters

Ge Yao; Fang-Ping Ren; Fei Chen; Lu-Ya Cao; Ji Xian; Xiao-Bo Pan; Hong-Zhang Cao; Jin-Cai Wu

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3262-5

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Readily Degradable and Recyclable High Molecular Weight Thiosalicylic Acid-based Copolyesters

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-14

- Readily Degradable and Recyclable High Molecular Weight Thiosalicylic Acid-based Copolyesters
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 6, Pages: 924-932(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  b.State Key Laboratory of Baiyunobo Rare Earth Resource Researches and Comprehensive Utilization, Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths, Baotou 014030, China
- Author bio：
  
  btxtychz@163.com (H.Z.C.)
  wujc@lzu.edu.cn (J.C.W.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3262-5
  CLC：
- Received：30 September 2024，
  
  Revised：2024-11-01，
  
  Accepted：05 November 2024，
  
  Online First：25 January 2025，
  
  Published：20 May 2025
- Accepted：
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Yao, G.; Ren, F. P.; Chen, F.; Cao, L. Y.; Xian, J.; Pan, X. B.; Cao, H. Z.; Wu, J. C. Readily degradable and recyclable high molecular weight thiosalicylic acid-based copolyesters. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 924–932

Ge Yao, Fang-Ping Ren, Fei Chen, et al. Readily Degradable and Recyclable High Molecular Weight Thiosalicylic Acid-based Copolyesters[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(6): 924-932.
Yao, G.; Ren, F. P.; Chen, F.; Cao, L. Y.; Xian, J.; Pan, X. B.; Cao, H. Z.; Wu, J. C. Readily degradable and recyclable high molecular weight thiosalicylic acid-based copolyesters. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 924–932 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3262-5.

Ge Yao, Fang-Ping Ren, Fei Chen, et al. Readily Degradable and Recyclable High Molecular Weight Thiosalicylic Acid-based Copolyesters[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(6): 924-932. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3262-5.

摘要

A new monomer of thiosalicylic methyl glycolide was synthesized using a one-pot method

and high-molecular-weight poly(thiosalicylic methyl glycolide) (Mn up to 300 kDa) was obtained via the ring-opening polymerization of TSMG. PTSMG exhibits good closed-loop recyclability and hydrolytic degradability

which provide a potential solution to the current plastic pollution problem.

Abstract

Most commercial plastics cannot easily degrade

which raises a number of sustainability issues. To address the current problem of plastic pollution

the research and development of easily degradable and recyclable polymers has become an attractive subject. Herein

a new monomer of thiosalicylic methyl glycolide (TSMG) was synthesized using one-pot method and high molecular weight poly(thiosalicylic methyl glycolide) (PTSMG

up to 300 kDa) can be obtained

via

the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of TSMG. PTSMG exhibits good closed-loop recyclability and hydrolytic degradability

where PTSMG can generate pristine monomers through sublimation thermal depolymerization conditions due to the presence of thiophenol ester bond in the polymer chains

and can be degraded rapidly in aqueous solution

which provides a potential solution to the current plastic pollution problem.

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