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Updated: Nov 30, 2025

A Simple and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Insertion Polymerization of Functional Norbornenes
Published on: February 27, 2017
Norbornadiene Chain-End Functional Polymers as Stable, Readily Available Precursors to Cyclopentadiene Derivatives
Sophia J Bailey1, Emre H Discekici2, Stephanie M Barbon3
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.
Abstract:
A novel method for facile postpolymerization functionalization of synthetic polymers using terminal norbornadiene (NBD) building blocks is presented. Incorporation of the NBD functionality streamlines the synthesis of a wide array of block polymers utilizing multistep click chemistry strategies. Previously, the use of NBD-functionalized initiators produced polymers that underwent a cascade of Diels-Alder (DA) reactions to unveil a reactive cyclopentadiene (Cp) chain end. When coupled with a maleimide-bearing counterpart, a highly efficient DA cycloaddition with the terminal Cp can occur. To extend this concept to a range of polyacrylates and commercially available poly(ethylene glycol) systems, we developed a novel NBD acid building block for postpolymerization functionalization. Employing this process, we have demonstrated straightforward access to a library of block polymers that leverage this NBD click platform.
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