Propane-1,2-diols from dilactides, oligolactides, or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA): from plastic waste to chiral bulk chemicals.

The preparation of racemic or enantioenriched propane-1,2-diol from dilactides, oligolactides, or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is described. The transformation is carried out as tandem reactions in MeOH, covering hydrolysis and subsequent hydrogenation by using copper chromite as a catalyst. The starting material present undesired side products of the PLLA synthesis or PLLA waste.