Multiple Olefin Metathesis Polymerization That Combines All Three Olefin Metathesis Transformations: Ring-Opening, Ring-Closing, and Cross Metathesis

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Jul 29;137(29):9262-5. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b06033. Epub 2015 Jul 17.

Abstract

We demonstrated tandem ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis (RO/RCM) polymerization of monomers containing two cyclopentene moieties and postmodification via insertion polymerization. In this system, well-defined polymers were efficiently formed by tandem cascade RO/RCM reaction pathway. Furthermore, these polymers could be transformed to new A,B-alternating copolymers via a sequential cross metathesis reaction with a diacrylate. Additionally, we demonstrated the concept of multiple olefin metathesis polymerization in which the dicyclopentene and diacrylate monomers underwent all three olefin metathesis transformations (ring-opening, ring-closing, and cross metathesis) in one shot to produce A,B-alternating copolymer.