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Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
Controlled Synthesis of a Homopolymer Network Using a Well-Defined Single-Component Diels-Alder Cyclopentadiene
Thi M Tran1, Javier Read de Alaniz1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.
Abstract:
Cyclopentadiene is known for its high reactivity and propensity to dimerize, making monomer synthesis and polymerization notoriously challenging. In fact, despite its long history and compelling chemistry, only two reports have appeared in the literature since the first attempt to homopolymerize cyclopentadiene by Staudinger in 1926. Herein, we present a strategy not only to synthesize, isolate, and homopolymerize a well-defined tetracyclopentadiene monomer but also to de-cross-link the network homopolymer. Mechanical properties are also investigated, including creep-recovery, shape memory, and tensile behaviors. Interestingly, the tensile test reflects a tough and elastic material, in contrast to prior Cp-based homopolymer networks. This work provides a versatile platform to access and study new cyclopentadiene-based and better-defined homopolymer networks with potential applications ranging from shape memory polymers to degradable thermosets.
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