Degradable polyethylene-like materials

Plastic pollution caused by the accumulation of synthetic plastic waste represented by polyolefin has drawn increasing global concern. The molecular backbone of these materials consists exclusively of robust carbon–carbon bonds, which exhibit high chemical and biological inertness, rendering them resistant to degradation under ambient environmental conditions. A promising strategy to address this challenge involves the incorporation of cleavable functional groups (such as ester, amide, thioester, siloxane) into the polymer backbone, enabling controlled degradation and chemical recycling under specific triggers. This review systematically summarized recent advances in the design and synthesis of polyethylene-like materials containing such cleavable groups, highlighting various bond insertion strategies and synthetic methodologies. Future challenges and opportunities in the development of chemically recyclable polyolefin-like materials are also outlined.