Highly efficient hydrogenative depolymerisation of polycaprolactone to 1,6-hexanediol
We report here our study on the development of an efficient process to make 1,6-hexanediol from the hydrogenation of polycaprolactone assisted by ethanolysis. Using a ruthenium SNS pincer catalyst, a record high turnover number of 19 600 with 98% yield of 1,6-hexanediol is obtained at 80 °C and 60 bar H<sub>2</sub> pressure. The reported method has environmental advantages over the conventional process for the production of 1,6-hexanediol, which emits a significant amount of nitrous oxide greenhouse gas.
Authors
- Alejandra Sophia Lozano Pérez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4469-1312)
- Amit Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8175-8221)
- Garima Saini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5929-2874)
- Niklas von Wolff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-5365)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Moléculaire (FR)
- Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- RSC Sustainability
- Published
- 2025-12-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d5su00729a
- Primary Topic
- Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council