TEREPHTHALIC ACID ESTERS FORMATION

1 . A process for the transformation of a polyester selected from 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 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.

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

3 . The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the alcoholic solvent is selected from 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 any one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is selected from a non polar solvent, a polar aprotic solvent, a polar protic solvent, and any combinations thereof.

6 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 5 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is selected from DMSO, DMF, acetone, a halogenated solvent, n-hexane, nitrobenzene, methanol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and any combinations thereof.

7 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is a halogenated solvent.

8 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 7 , wherein the ratio of solvent for swelling the polyester to alcoholic solvent is between about 0.1:1 and about 2:1 (w:w).

9 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 8 , wherein the ratio of solvent for swelling the polyester to alcoholic solvent is between about 0.5:1 and about 1:1 (w:w).

10 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 9 , wherein the alkoxide is selected from an alkali metal alkoxide, an alkaline earth metal alkoxide, a metal alkoxide, an ammonium alkoxide and any combinations thereof.

11 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 10 , 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 any one of claims 1 - 11 , wherein the ratio of polyester to alkoxide is between about 15:1 and about 125:1 (w:w).

13 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 12 , wherein the ratio of polyester to alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 25:1 (w:w).

14 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 13 , wherein the admixing of the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester, the alkoxide, and the alcoholic solvent is performed until an about 80% yield of the terephthalate of Formula (I) is achieved.

15 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 14 , wherein the admixing of the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester, the alkoxide, and the alcoholic solvent is performed without external heat.

16 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 15 , wherein the admixing of the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester, the alkoxide, and the alcoholic solvent is performed at atmospheric pressure.

17 . 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.

18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate is selected from a halogenated solvent, DMSO, benzyl alcohol, methanol, and any combinations thereof.

19 . The process of claim 17 or 18 , wherein the ratio of polyethylene terephthalate to alkoxide is between about 20:1 and about 25:1 (w:w).

20 . The process of any one of claims 17 - 19 , wherein the alkoxide is selected from sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, aluminium tri-n-propoxide, and tetrabutylammonium methoxide.

21 . The process of any one of claims 17 - 20 , wherein the ratio of solvent for swelling the polyester to methanol is between about 0.5:1 and about 1:1 (w:w).

22 . The process of any one of claims 17 - 21 , wherein the admixing of the polyethylene terephthalate with the solvent for swelling the polyethylene terephthalate, the alkoxide, and the methanol is performed until an about 80% yield of dimethyl terephthalate is achieved.

23 . A reaction mixture comprising:

(a) a polyester selected from polyethylene terephthalate and poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate);

(b) a solvent for swelling the polyester;

(c) an alcoholic solvent; and

(d) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide.

24 . The reaction mixture of claim 23 , wherein the alcoholic solvent is selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, t-butanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, cyclohexane-1,4-diyldimethanol, phenol, benzyl alcohol, and any combinations thereof.

25 . The reaction mixture of claim 23 or 24 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is selected from a non polar solvent, a polar aprotic solvent, a polar protic solvent, and any combinations thereof.

26 . The reaction mixture of any one of claims 23 - 25 , wherein the solvent for swelling the polyester is a halogenated solvent and the alcoholic solvent is methanol.

27 . The reaction mixture of any one of claims 23 - 26 , wherein the ratio of solvent for swelling the polyester to alcoholic solvent is between about 0.5:1 and about 1:1 (w:w).

28 . The reaction mixture of any one of claims 23 - 27 , wherein the ratio of polyester to alkoxide is between about 15:1 and about 30:1 (w:w).

29 . The reaction mixture of any one of claims 23 - 28 , wherein the alkoxide is selected from sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, aluminium tri-n-propoxide, and tetrabutylammonium methoxide.

30 . The reaction mixture of any one of claims 23 - 29 , wherein the alkoxide is sodium methoxide.