Synthesis of two novel thermally stable classes of polynorbornene with pendant aryl ether or ester chains

Reactions of 5-norbornene-2-methanol with arene cyclopentadienyliron complexes led to the synthesis of two new classes of norbornene monomers with ether or ester bridges; ring-opening metathesis polymerization of these monomers using ruthenium-based catalysts gave rise to high molecular weight polymers displaying exceptional thermal stability.