, and β-O-4 linkages undergo efficient and selective cleavage to afford the desired products over acidic zeolites under mild conditions (ambient pressure, <200°C). Control experiments show that the acid sites of the zeolite activate PE to generate hydrogen species while simultaneously polarizing the C─O bonds of the substrates, thereby enabling C─O bond transfer hydrogenolysis. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized hydrogen-transfer pathway between PE and C─O bonds, and provide a basis for developing integrated upcycling strategies for plastic waste and biomass.
Wen et al. (2026) studied this question.