Incorporation of Oxime Functionality into Polyolefins via Iron-Catalyzed C–H Imidoylation

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are among the most widely produced macromolecular alkanes; however, there is an urgent need to introduce diverse functional groups into these materials to meet the demands of modern technologies. The incorporation of oxime functionality has garnered significant attention; however, the direct postfunctionalization to access such materials remains a considerable challenge. In this work, we report a mild iron-catalyzed method for the C–H imidoylation of polyethylene and polypropylene. This approach enables the efficient installation of oxime functionality into diverse commodities and postconsumer polyolefin plastics. New properties not found in virgin PP, such as enhanced hydrophilicity, improved compatibility in mixed plastic blends, and increased adhesion to aluminum and steel plates, are exhibited in these functionalized materials. These enhanced characteristics highlight great potential for further applications. Additionally, the successful use of real-world plastics offers a sustainable strategy to broaden the utilization of plastic waste.