Hydrogenative Depolymerization of End‐of‐Life Polycarbonates by an Iron Pincer Complex

Chemical recycling processes can contribute to a resource‐efficient plastic economy. Herein, a procedure for the iron‐catalyzed hydrogenation of the carbonate function of end‐of‐life polycarbonates under simultaneous depolymerization is presented. The use of a straightforward iron pincer complex leads to high rate of depolymerization of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) and poly(propylene carbonate) yielding the monomers bisphenol A and 1,2‐propanediol, respectively, as products under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the iron complex was able to depolymerize polycarbonates containing goods and mixture of plastics containing polycarbonates.