Ring-opening polymerizations for the synthesis of sequence-controlled copolymers

Various prestructured cyclic monomers were synthesized and polymerized to construct the copolymers of controlled mer sequence. Substituted 8-, 10- and 12-membered cyclic olefins were polymerized by ROMP catalyst, i.e., W(OAr) 2 Cl 4 /Et 4 Pb. Those polymers obtained were the alternating terpolymers of butadiene and vinyl monomers. Cyclic monomers with mesogenic groups as substituents were prepared and polymerized successfully. The resulting polymers were highly liquid crystalline exhibiting rather lower transition temperatures than their monomeric analogs.