The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Introducing functional groups into commodity plastics, such as polyolefins, is a promising approach for producing higher-value functional materials. From the upcycling/recycling standpoint, functional polyolefins may be useful as (reactive) compatibilizers to increase miscibilities of nonpolar polyolefins with other polymers. However, direct copolymerization with functional comonomers and postpolymerization modification of relatively unreactive polyolefins are challenging. In this presentation, I will discuss a deoxygenation reaction as a synthetic route to functional polyolefins with different functionalities with controlled levels of functionalization. Synthesis of well-defined precursor polymers containing oxygen in the pendant and deriving hydrocarbon polymers via deoxygenation will be discussed in detail.