Electrochemically generated tungsten‐based active species as catalysts for metathesis‐related reactions: 2. Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene

Abstract

Abstract The present work reports the application of the WCl 6 –e − –Al–CH 2 Cl 2 catalyst system to the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene. Analysis of the polynorbornene microstructure by means of 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer contains a mainly cis stereoconfiguration of the double bonds (σ c = 0.61) and a blocky distribution ( r t r c > 1) of cis and trans double bonds ( r t r c = 3.37). This catalytic system is reluctant to facilitate the competing addition reactions of cycloalkenes while proceeding with the polymerization reactions with good conversions and at short periods. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.