Copolymerization of amino acid and amino ester functionalized norbornenes via living ring-opening metathesis polymerization

The block and random copolymerization of a series of amino acid and amino ester functionalized norbornenes by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) induced by the well-defined molybdenum [Mo(==N-2,6-iPr---C₆H₃)(==CHCMe₂)Ph)(OCMe₃)₂] or ruthenium [Ru(PCy)₂Cl₂(==CHPh)] based initiators is described. The monomers are derived from the amino acids glycine, alanine, and isoleucine or the methyl esters of these amino acids and either endo- or exo-norborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride. Enantiomerically pure monomers afforded optically active polymers, and the mechanism and kinetics of the copolymerizations are investigated.