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Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
Stereoretentive Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization to Access All-cis Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s with Living
Ting-Wei Hsu1, Cheoljae Kim1, Quentin Michaudel1
1Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States.
Abstract:
Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s (PPVs), a staple of the conductive polymer family, consist of alternating alkene and phenyl groups in conjugation. The physical properties of this organic material are intimately linked to the cis/trans configuration of the alkene groups. While many synthetic methods afford PPVs with all-trans stereochemistry, very few deliver the all-cis congeners. We report herein a synthesis of all-cis PPVs with living characteristics via stereoretentive ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Exquisite catalyst control allows for the preparation of homopolymers or diblock copolymers with perfect stereoselectivity, narrow dispersities, and predictable average molar masses. All-cis PPVs can then serve as light-responsive polymers through clean photoisomerization of the stilbenoid units.
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