Polynorbornene-based Template for Polymer Synthesis

The recent advances in the use of rigid polynorbornene or polycyclobutene as template for the synthesis of different polymers with well-defined degree of polymerization and narrow polydispersity are reviewed. Polynorbornene and polycyclobutene templates containing fused N-arylpyrrolidene pendants are synthesized by ruthenium or molybdenum-catalyzed ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of the corresponding monomers. Since these polymerizations are living, the templates thus have well-defined degree of polymerization and narrow polydispersity. Monomers are linked to the template polymer via ester linkage. After polymerization and hydrolysis, the poly-carboxylic acid template can easily be separated from the neutral polyalcohol daughter polymer.