The ring-opening polymerization (ROMP) of substituted cyclooctenes to give the corresponding polyalkenamers is well-established. In the case of monomers with substituents in the 3 position of the cyclooctene ring, the corresponding polymers are regiospecific with the substituent positioned along the backbone of the polymer specifically every eighth carbon. Moreover, depending on the catalyst used for the polymerization either Z or E enriched polymers can be prepared. So, through judicious choice of catalyst and monomer structure, polymers that are both regiospecific and stereospecific can readily be prepared. We have been studying the ROMP of various 3-subsituted cyclooctenes to generate new materials with interesting and distinct properties from their regiorandom analogs. In this presentation I will discuss our latest efforts in the ROMP of 3-subsituted cyclooctenes for the preparation of end-functional materials useful for crosslinked polyolefin elastomers, hydroxy-containing polymers for barrier applications, and the extension of this strategy to 3-substituted cyclododecenes to generate a new class of regio- and stereospecific polymers from ROMP with substituents separated every twelfth carbon along the polymer backbone. I will also report on our collaborative efforts using density functional theory to help elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of the observed selectivity in these polymerizations.

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 3-substitued cycloalkenes to give sequence specific polymers

ACS Spring 2022

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