Terephthalic acid esters formation

1. A process for the transformation of a polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) into a terephthalate of Formula (I):

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl), optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(aryl); provided that one of R 1 or R 2 is not hydrogen;

the process comprising admixing the polyester with a mixture comprising:

(a) a solvent for swelling the polyester;

(b) an alcoholic solvent; and

(c) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide;

wherein the process is performed at a temperature between about 25° C. and about 80° C.;

wherein the ratio of the polyester to the alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 50:1 (w:w); and wherein the admixing is performed to achieve at least about 70% yield of the terephthalate of Formula (I).

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein R 1 or R 2 is methyl.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alcoholic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, t-butanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, cyclohexane-1,4-diyldimethanol, phenol, benzyl alcohol, and any combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the alcoholic solvent is methanol.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is selected from the group consisting of a non polar solvent, a polar aprotic solvent, a polar protic solvent, and any combinations thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is selected from the group consisting of DMSO, DMF, acetone, a halogenated solvent, n-hexane, nitrobenzene, methanol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and any combinations thereof.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is a halogenated solvent.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the solvent for swelling the polyester to the alcoholic solvent is between about 0.1:1 and about 2:1 (w:w).

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the solvent for swelling the polyester to the alcoholic solvent is between about 0.5:1 and about 1:1 (w:w).

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkoxide is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal alkoxide, an alkaline earth metal alkoxide, a metal alkoxide, an ammonium alkoxide and any combinations thereof.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkoxide is generated in-situ by addition of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a metal to the alcoholic solvent.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the polyester to the alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 25:1 (w:w).

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the admixing of the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester, the alkoxide, and the alcoholic solvent is performed to achieve at least about 80% yield of the terephthalate of Formula (I).

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the admixing of the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester, the alkoxide, and the alcoholic solvent is performed at atmospheric pressure.

15. A process for the transformation of polyethylene terephthalate into dimethyl terephthalate, comprising admixing the polyethylene terephthalate with a mixture comprising:

(a) a solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate;

(b) methanol; and

(c) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide;

wherein the process is performed at a temperature between about 25° C. and about 80° C.;

wherein the ratio of the polyethylene terephthalate to the alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 50:1 (w:w); and wherein the admixing is performed to achieve at least about 70% yield of dimethyl terephthalate.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate is selected from the group consisting of a halogenated solvent, DMSO, benzyl alcohol, methanol, and any combinations thereof.

17. The process of claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the polyethylene terephthalate to the alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 25:1 (w:w).

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein the alkoxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, aluminium tri-n-propoxide, and tetrabutylammonium methoxide.

19. The process of claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate to the methanol is between about 0.5:1 and about 1:1 (w:w).

20. The process of claim 15 , wherein the admixing of the polyethylene terephthalate with the solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate, the alkoxide, and the methanol is performed to achieve at least an about 80% yield of dimethyl terephthalate.