Imidazole-substituted ROMP polymers: Post-modification of poly(norbornenediester) derivatives with aminolysis reactions

Non-activated Esters as Reactive Handles in Direct Post-Polymerization Modification

Non-activated esters are prominently featured functional groups in polymer science, as ester functional monomers display great structural diversity and excellent compatibility with a wide range of polymerization mechanisms. Yet, their direct use as a reactive handle in post-polymerization modification has been typically avoided due to their low reactivity, which impairs the quantitative conversion typically desired in post-polymerization modification reactions. While activated ester approaches are a well-established alternative, the modification of non-activated esters remains a synthetic and economically valuable opportunity. In this review, we discuss past and recent efforts in the utilization of non-activated ester groups as a reactive handle to facilitate transesterification and aminolysis/amidation reactions, and the potential of the developed methodologies in the context of macromolecular engineering.

Synthesis of norbornene derivatives and their polymers via ROMP of norbornene derivatives

Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) is a by-product resulting from the ethylene industry, which is high yield and underused in China. A technical route of producing valuable products—norbornene derivatives and their polymers from DCPD—was proposed and studied in this research. 5-Norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, a downstream product of DCPD, was employed as starting material to synthesize norbornene derivatives. Norbornene derivatives, 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester and 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid diphenylethyl esters, as well as their polymers have broad application prospects in many areas. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization was employed as the polymerization process, and the polymers/copolymers of norbornene derivatives were obtained successfully. The polymerization process of norbornene derivatives was investigated in detail, from which the method for controlling molecular weights and decomposition temperatures of norbornene derivatives copolymers were developed. Till now, the route of generating valuable norbornene derivatives from DCPD was completed finally.

Norbornene, norbornadiene and their derivatives: promising semi-products for organic synthesis and production of polymeric materials

The methods for synthesis of promising norbornene monomers from norbornadiene and quadricyclane are summarized. A strategy for their synthesis is discussed, combining theoretical and experimental approaches to the selection of catalysts and the conditions for carrying out stereoselective reactions. The mechanisms of catalytic reactions of synthesis of norbornene monomers, as well as the progress in the macromolecular design of functional polymeric materials based on them, are considered. The data on industrial processes of production of polynorbornenes and areas of their use are presented.

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Olefin metathesis in air using latent ruthenium catalysts: imidazole substituted amphiphilic hydrogenated ROMP polymers providing nano-sized reaction spaces in water

Imidazole substituted hydrogenated amphiphilic ROMP polymers were used as both surfactants and ligand precursors for olefin metathesis reactions in water.