Synthesis of graft copolymers from α-oxanorbornenyl macromonomers

α-Oxanorbornenyl macromonomers of poly(solketal methacrylate) were synthesized by ATRP with molar masses ranging from 3500 to 8500 g mol−1 and polydispersity indexes (PDi) of 1.22–1.23 prior to being polymerized via ROMP. Grubb's second generation catalyst ((IMesH2)(Cy3P)RuCl2(CHPh)) was employed to give complete conversion with PDi of approximately 1.25 obtained. Subsequent hydrolysis led to well-defined polyoxanorbornene-g-poly(glycerol methacrylate) copolymers via the “grafting through” strategy with number average molar mass of 24 000–37 000 g mol−1. A macromonomer with a molar mass of 6000 g mol−1 was the upper limit to obtain a complete conversion under the polymerization conditions employed.