Aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization and copolymerization of 2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 2,3-bis(methoxymethyl) and 2,3-dicarboxylic acid mono-methyl ester derivatives of 7-oxanorbornene

The aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride (I), 2,3-bis(methoxymethyl) (II) and 2,3-dicarboxylic acid mono-methyl ester (III) derivatives of 7-oxanorbornene was explored. Reactions were catalysed by commercial ruthenium trichloride with aqueous ethanol or water as solvent. The anhydride ring opened during polymerization of I. The rate of polymerization of III exceeded that of II. The copolymerization of II and III was investigated for the case of monomers either mixed initially or added sequentially. Solubility data indicated that statistical copolymers were produced in both cases.