Lactate anion catalyzes aminolysis of polyesters with anilines.

The article highlights a study on simple, metal-free, and efficient aminolysis strategy to upcycle polylactic acid by anilines over lactate-based ionic liquids, accessing a series of N-aryl lactamides under mild conditions. It concludes that the nucleophilic attack of N atom of anilines on carbonyl C atom of polyesters results in cleavage of C─O bond of polymers and formation of the target products.