SYNTHESIS OF COMB-SHAPED GRAFT COPOLYMERS VIA RING OPENING METATHESIS POLYMERIZATION CATALYZED BY SUPPORTED RUTHENIUM CARBENE COMPLEX

Chloromethyl-2-norbornene was synthesized via Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene and allyl chloride using a polymer supported boron trifluoride as the catalyst, and was then lithiated and used to initiate a living anionic polymerization of styrene to prepare a macromonome, 5-polystyryl-2-norbornene NBPS. Comb graft copolymer PNBgPS was synthesized via ring opening metathesis polymerization of the macromonomer under the catalysis of ruthenium carbene complex RuCl2(PPh3)2(=CCHtBu) and its polymer supported correspondent. Experimental results showed that the behavior of both the supported boron and supported ruthenium catalysts are superior to their unsupported counterparts. The possible promotion mechanism of the tailor-made supports is discussed.