Chemical recycling of polyesters. One-pot-two-step conversion of poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) and poly(tetramethylene terephthalate), producing the corresponding hydroxamic acids and hydrazides

Convenient one-pot-two-step processes for chemical recycling of commercially available polyesters were conducted to produce the corresponding hydroxamic acids and hydrazides in high yields. Glycolysis of poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) in diethylene glycol into the corresponding oligomers, followed by aminolysis with hydroxylamine and hydrazine yielded 2,6-naphthalenedicarbohydroxamic acid in 96% and 2,6-naphthalenedicarbohydrazide in 85% overall yields. In a similar manner, terephthalohydroxamic acid and terephthalohydrazide were produced in 92 and 91%, respectively, from degradation of poly(tetramethylene terephthalate).