Synthesis and characterization of polyoctenamer with WCl₆e⁻AlCH₂Cl₂ catalyst system via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

Abstract

Abstract A typical low‐strain monomer, cyclooctene, was polymerized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization with electrochemically produced active species. The structural properties of the polyoctenamer were determined by NMR, gel‐permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. Analysis of the polyoctenamer microstructure by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer contains a highly cis stereoconfiguration of the double bonds (σ c = 0.75). The resulting polymer is of low molecular weight and has a reasonably broad molecular weight distribution ( M w = 18 000, PDI = 1.9). The glass transition temperature and melting point of the polyoctenamer are −11.3 °C and 36.5 °C respectively. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.