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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
Degradable Polyphosphoramidate via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Yifei Liang1, Hao Sun1,2, Wei Cao1,2
1Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Abstract:
We report the synthesis of a degradable polyphosphoramidate via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with the Grubbs initiator (IMesH2)(C5H5N)2(Cl)2Ru═CHPh. Controlled ROMP of a low ring strain diazaphosphepine-based cyclic olefin was achieved at low temperatures to afford well-defined polymers that readily undergo degradation in acidic conditions via the cleavage of the acid-labile phosphoramidate linkages. The diazaphosphepine monomer was compatible in random and block copolymerizations with phenyl and oligo(ethylene glycol) bearing norbornenes. This approach introduced partial or complete degradability into the polymer backbones. With this chemistry, we accessed amphiphilic poly(diazaphosphepine-norbornene) copolymers that could be used to prepare micellar nanoparticles.
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