This poster describes our recent efforts at utilizing flow reaction conditions to perform ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions. These reactions can be easily conducted on the benchtop under air using simple syringe pumps and commercially-available Grubbs-type initiators. These reactions are shown to be fast (in some cases no more than one minute is required) and allows for the polymer to be directly isolated without the need for any sophisticated glassware. This process is amenable to (i) monomers with moderate to high levels of ring strain (i.e. norbornene derivatives, cyclooctadiene, and oxanorbornene derivatives) and (ii) the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers (block and random) alike. Interestingly, we found that mixtures of endo and exo norbornene-based monomers can also be polymerized in which the exo isomer is almost exclusively polymerized while the endo remains untouched. This allows for mixtures of the two to be used without previously being separated. A comparison of molecular weight distribution, as compared to typical batch polymerizations, is also presented.

Performing Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) reactions under flow conditions

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.