{
  "abstract": "Low-temperature depolymerization of ATRP polymers has been successfully demonstrated both in bulk and solution. However, all reported examples necessitate a metal catalyst for chain-end activation, require extensive modifications and transformations prior to depolymerization, or use specialized initiators. Herein, a catalyst-free bulk depolymerization method for poly(O-aryl methacrylates) is realized, whereby the elimination of lactonization lowers the temperature by more than 100 °C and enables up to 92% depolymerization efficiency at temperatures as low as 230 °C. Key to the approach is the in-situ thermal transformation of halogen chain-ends into macromonomer, resulting in monomer yields comparable to those obtained in the presence of a catalyst. The method can be expanded from various poly(O-aryl methacrylates) to conventional polymethacrylates, for example, poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(benzyl methacrylate), after a short block addition of an O-aryl methacrylate. This work provides a straightforward, high-yielding, catalyst-free bulk method for chemical recycling and offers mechanistic insights into the thermal stability and depolymerization of ATRP polymers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratory of Sustainable Polymers, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093Zurich, Switzerland."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Brendan Pozzi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stella Afroditi Mountaki"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Richard Whitfield"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Athina Anastasaki"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1w09jwprxjdp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1021/acsmacrolett.6c00380",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689910",
  "id": "a1w09jwprxjdp",
  "issns": [
    "2161-1653"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899722",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1605|Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212138405",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689910?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13689910",
  "pmid": "42899722",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1w09jwprxjdp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:37Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42899722",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899722"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1605|Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization",
      "subfield": "organic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Catalyst-Free Bulk Depolymerization of Polymethacrylates Prepared by ATRP.",
  "title_text": "Catalyst-Free Bulk Depolymerization of Polymethacrylates Prepared by ATRP.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1w09jwprxjdp",
  "venue": "ACS macro letters",
  "versions": []
}