A monomer for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has been developed that also functions as a portion of a GdIII chelating moiety for a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. An increase in per GdIII relaxivity was shown upon transition from monomer to polymer. Additionally, extremely large molecular relaxivities were achieved through incorporation of multiple GdIII ions per polym...

The synthesis and electrochemical properties of novel block copolymers are reported. Three different norbornene derivatives having phenylene-thiophene, phenylene-bithiophene, and phenylene-furan structures were copolymerized with either norbornene or 7-oxanorbornene derivatives via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Block copolymers’ stabilities and solubilities could be improved by...

The pseudo-octahedral molybdenum benzylidyne complex [TolC≡Mo(ONO)(OR)]·KOR (R = CCH3(CF3)2) 1, featuring a stabilizing ONO pincer ligand, initiates the controlled living polymerization of strained dibenzocyclooctynes at T > 60 °C to give high molecular weight polymers with exceptionally low polydispersities (PDI ∼ 1.02). Kinetic analyses reveal that the growing polymer chain attached to the pr...

The role of the crystal morphology and dissolution kinetics of Grubbs’ catalyst on self-healing capability is examined. Self-healing polymers require complete coverage of the crack plane with polymerized healing agent for optimal recovery of mechanical integrity. Lack of catalyst leads to incomplete coverage, partial polymerization, and poor mechanical recovery. Catalyst availability is determi...

Light activation is a most desirable property for catalysis control. Among the many catalytic processes that may be activated by light, olefin metathesis stands out as both academically motivating and practically useful. Starting from early tungsten heterogeneous photoinitiated metathesis, up to modern ruthenium methods based on complex photoisomerisation or indirect photoactivation, this surve...