Synthesis of norbornene–cyclooctene copolymers by the cross-metathesis of polynorbornene with polyoctenamer

Abstract

Copolymers of norbornene and cyclooctene were synthesized for the first time by the cross-metathesis of polynorbornene with polyoctenamer. This strategy made it possible to use the 1^st generation Grubbs catalyst, which exhibits low activity toward copolymerization of those monomers. Statistical multiblock copolymers with average block lengths varying from 200 to 2 units were obtained.