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

Abstract Novel oligo- and polyenaminones with Mw ∼ 3000 Da 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 °C. This simple polymerisation/depolymerisation method allows for a closed-loop recycling of polyenaminone-based materials. UV light absorbance at wavelengths below 470 nm indicates promising optical properties of these polymers.