Precision Aliphatic Polyesters via Cross-Metathesis Polymerization

Cross-metathesis (CM), a carbon-carbon bond transformation that features exceptional selectivity, reactivity and tolerance to functionalities, has been extensively investigated in organic chemistry. On the other hand, the use of CM in polymer synthesis is also growing in both scope and breadth, thus offering a wealth of opportunities for introducing a vast range of functionalities into polymer backbone so as to manipulate properties and expand applications. In this review, we propose the concept of "cross-metathesis polymerization" (CMP) referring to polymer synthesis via repetitive CM reaction and summarize emerging strategies for the precision synthesis of aliphatic polyesters via CMP based on the high CM tendency between acrylates and α- olefins. Due to the carbon-carbon bond-forming step-growth polymerization nature, CMP brings a new concept to polyester synthesis. This remarkable polymerization method possesses unique advantages such as mild condition, full conversion, fast kinetics, almost quantitative yield and extraordinary tolerance to functionalities. In particular, CMP provides the ability to regulate macromolecular architectures including linear, block, cyclic, star, graft, dendron, hyperbranched and dendrimer topologies. Ultimately, advanced polymeric materials with outstanding performances can be facially constructed based on these sophisticated macromolecular architectures.

Novel Photoresponsive Linear, Graft, and Comb-Like Copolymers with Azobenzene Chromophores in the Main-Chain and/or Side-Chain: Facile One-Pot Synthesis and Photoresponse Properties

Novel photoresponsive linear, graft, and comb-like copolymers with azobenzene chromophores in the main-chain and/or side-chain are prepared via a sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and head-to-tail acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization in a one-pot procedure using Grubbs ruthenium-based catalysts. The diluted solutions of these as-prepared copolymers containing azobenzene chromophores exhibit photochemical trans-cis isomerization under the irradiation of UV light, followed by their cis-trans back-isomerization in visible light. The rates of photoisomerization are found to be slower than those of back-isomerization, and the rate for the comb-like copolymer is found to be from 3 to 7 times slower than that obtained for the linear or graft copolymer. This is ascribed to the differences in structure of the copolymers and the specific location of azobenzene chromophores in the copolymer, which favor a side-chain graft structure.

Ladder- and bridge-like polynorbornenes with phosphate linkers: facile one-pot synthesis and excellent properties

A novel telechelic double-stranded polymer with two terminal alkenyl groups was prepared through ROMP of the corresponding monomer bearing a phosphate linker, and was then used as a macromonomer in ADMET polymerization to yield a bridge-like polymer.