TEREPHTHALIC ACID ESTERS FORMATION

The present disclosure relates to the formation of terephthalate esters of Formula (I) which are formed by the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate). The depolymerization process comprises contacting polyethylene terephthalate or poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) with a solvent for swelling the polyester, an alcoholic solvent, and a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide. In the Formula (I) R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted (C1-C6 alkyl)(C3-C8 cycloalkyl), optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted (C1-C6 alkyl)(aryl); provided that one of R1 or R2 is not hydrogen.

The present disclosure relates to the formation of terephthalate esters of Formula (I) which are formed by the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate). The depolymerization process comprises contacting polyethylene terephthalate or poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) with a solvent for swelling the polyester, an alcoholic solvent, and a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide. In the Formula (I) R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted (C1-C6 alkyl)(C3-C8 cycloalkyl), optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted (C1-C6 alkyl)(aryl); provided that one of R1 or R2 is not hydrogen.