Poly(NDI)s are a versatile class of polymers, which have been recently utilized as cell adhesion materials, membranes, insulating materials and in various optics applications. A well-controlled and clean polymerization profile is essential for successful manipulation of important physical properties such as glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature, refractive index, trans–cis content and molecular weight. We have investigated the ROMP of N-cyclohexyl-exo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide using four common initiators, Grubbs 1, Grubbs 2, Hoveyda–Grubbs 1 and Hoveyda–Grubbs 2. Only Grubbs 1 was found to be able to control the polymerization successfully, leading to a fine control over the molecular weight and associated physical properties.
- Andrew M Spring
- Feng Yu
- Shiyoshi Yokoyama