Valorization of polyoxymethylene (POM) waste as a C1 synthon for industrially relevant dialkoxymethanes and cyclic aminals†

Chemical recycling, either upcycling or returning to monomers, is a promising option for deriving value from plastic waste. Herein, we report two novel methods of upcycling waste polyoxymethylene (POM) to generate dialkoxymethanes (DAMs) by alcoholysis and cyclic aminals by aminolysis. A range of products are reported, including dimethoxymethane (DMM) and diethoxymethane (DEM), both of which are used industrially. Mixed plastic depolymerizations containing POM, both as a contaminant in other systems and as the intended substrate with other plastics as contaminants, were also investigated. The selectivity of four depolymerization reactions with respect to POM is reported alongside the selectivity of POM alcoholysis with respect to common contaminants. Finally, two mixed samples of post-consumer plastic waste containing POM, BPA-PC, and PET were sequentially and selectively degraded.