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Updated: Sep 23, 2025

A Simple and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Insertion Polymerization of Functional Norbornenes
Published on: February 27, 2017
Cascade Ring-Opening/Ring-Closing Metathesis Polymerization of a Monomer Containing a Norbornene and a Cyclohexene
Mohammad Yasir1, Andreas F M Kilbinger1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Norbornene is polymerized extremely fast when reacted with Grubbs' first (G1) or third generation catalyst (G3) because of its very high ring strain energy. Cyclohexene, on the other hand, cannot be polymerized using G1 or G3 due to its very low ring strain energy. Subsequently, the sequence-selective polymerization of these two monomers is extremely challenging. A sequence-selective cascade ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis polymerization of the monomer M containing both the norbornene and the cyclohexene ring using G1 or G3 is reported. The polymer structure was analyzed by 1H NMR, 1H-1H COSY, and 1H-1H ROESY spectroscopy and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Polymers with moderate molecular weight dispersities and good molecular weight control were achieved by varying the ratio between monomer M and G1.
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