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Comprehensive Summary It is urgent to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) effectively, since it is the most consumed synthetic polyester and its improper disposal has caused significant environmental pollution. The existing chemical recycling methods highly rely on the nucleophilic substitutions and hydrogenative depolymerizations, which typically require the use of excess of nucleophiles, excess strong acids or bases, expensive metal catalysts, and explosive gas atmosphere. Here, we demonstrate a mild and efficient protocol for oxidative depolymerization of PET to terephthalic acid using only an O2 balloon. Terephthalic acid can be recycled from PET‐containing materials including a series of plastic products in daily life. The employing of relatively low loading of iron complex, the most earth‐abundant transition metal, as the catalyst and the preliminary results on the large‐scale reaction using 38 g of PET waste demonstrate the practical feasibility of this degradation method. This method can be also applicable for selective degradation of PET from mixed plastics. This work represents a rare example of a selective oxidative depolymerization and demonstrates the great potentials of such a concept in polyester recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study published in the journal Synlett discusses a new method for the chemical recycling of plastic waste, specifically polystyrene. The study focuses on the use of an iron-based catalyst to degrade polystyrene into benzoic acid under mild conditions. The research explores different catalysts and solvent effects, and demonstrates the potential for plastic degradation using atmospheric air. This study provides valuable insights into the development of more efficient and sustainable methods for plastic recycling, offering a potential solution to the significant environmental problem of plastic waste. Additionally, another article presents a novel approach for the selective degradation of polystyrene products using a photoinduced iron catalyst. The study shows that this approach is highly effective in converting polystyrene waste into valuable chemicals such as formic acid and benzoic acid. The research provides insights into the potential for chemical upcycling of common polystyrene products and waste, offering a promising avenue for reducing plastic waste. [Extracted from the article]