Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of substituted norbornenes

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a series of substituted norbornenes was carried out. Special attention was paid to the polymerization of monomers bearing silicon-containing groups, e.g., trimethylsilylnorbornene. Various heterogeneous and homogeneous tungsten-, rhenium- and ruthenium-based systems were used as catalysts. It was possible to obtain polymers of some norbornenes having reactive SiCl and SiOR bonds as well as groups capable of polymerizing via different mechanisms. The latter remained unchanged during the ring-opening of the norbornenes and could be used for the further modification of these polymers. Some data on the polymerization of various cycloolefin pairs are presented. It was found that some of the new silicon-containing polynorbornenes belong to the group of the most permeable and rather permselective polymers.