# CAS: Rubber Functionalization, Upcycling, and Circularity Enabled by Allylic C-H Amination

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Washington (WA) · $660,000

## Abstract

With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professors Forrest Michael and Matthew Golder of the University of Washington will investigate new ways to generate novel plastic and elastic materials with tunable properties and develop new methods for these materials to be chemically recycled.  Synthetic plastics and rubbers are essential and ubiquitous products in everyday life, serving as important materials for a wide variety of applications. Though many of these materials find alternative end-of-life uses, our current ability to recycle these materials is very limited. This proposal will investigate novel ways of transforming simple petroleum byproducts into functionalized plastics and rubbers with higher levels of control over the microscopic chemical structure and its tunability. The key to this approach is the use of a unique catalytic functionalization of commodity polymers that can add a wide range of functionality in controllable proportions. Using this catalytic reaction, this project will prepare a variety of new plastics and rubbers and investigate their physical properties. Additionally, this project will develop methods that allow the initial transformation to be chemically reversed, thus regenerating the original material and allowing its reuse in new applications. This functionalization/defunctionalization process will enable a circular life-cycle for these materials, in which they can continuall

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2505701
- **Awardee organization:** University of Washington (WA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **PI:** Forrest Michael
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAS-Critical Aspects of Sustainability
- **Estimated total:** $660,000
- **Funds obligated:** $660,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2505701

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2505701, CAS: Rubber Functionalization, Upcycling, and Circularity Enabled by Allylic C-H Amination. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2505701. Licensed CC0.

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