5-(Methoxymethyl)norbornene-Based Addition Polymer: Synthesis and Gas-Transport Properties

5-(Methoxymethyl)norbornene is synthesized from the commercial 5-norbornene-2-methanol via the Williamson reaction. Its addition polymerization is studied, and conditions for formation of a high molecular weight product with a high yield are determined. The gas-transport properties of the synthesized addition polynorbornene for a wide set of gases (He, H2, O2, N2, CO2, CH4) are investigated. Our data make it possible to infer that the ether group in the side chain of polynorbornenes affects their gas-transport properties. It is shown that the ether group contributes to a reduction in the level of gas permeability and an increase in the selectivity of separation of gas pairs CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4.