The dinuclear complex Cp*2Os2Br4 (Cp* ) pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) and related mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)osmium compounds are catalysts for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene. The most active catalyst prepared to date is made by treatment of Cp*2Os2Br4 with methylaluminoxane. This catalyst polymerizes norbornene with yields up to 167 kg of polymer per mol o...

Polymers have emerged as powerful biological tools; however, their ability to gain access to the intracellular environment is limited. To expand the biological utility of polymer scaffolds, we have synthesized an internalization domain using the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). A polymer functionalized with guanidinium groups is effectively internalized by cells and localized in b...

The use of surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP) for producing polymer dielectric layers is reported. Surface tethering of the catalyst to Au or Si/SiO2 surfaces is accomplished via self-assembled monolayers of thiols or silanes containing reactive olefins. Subsequent SI-ROMP of norbornene can be conducted under mild conditions. Pentacene semiconducting layers and g...

A panel of acid-labile bis-norbornene cross-linkers was synthesized and evaluated for the formation of acid-degradable brush-arm star polymers (BASPs) via the brush-first ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) method. An acetal-based cross-linker was identified that, when employed in conjunction with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer, provided highly controlled BASP formation re...

The morphology and magnetic properties of diblock copolymer templated ferrimagnetic cobalt oxide nanoparticles are reported. Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was used to synthesize a novel cobalt diblock copolymer, where cobalt is directly attached to the polymer chain. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was performed to determine molecular weight distribution. Transmission electr...

A model was developed to aid in the selection of healing monomers that can rapidly dissolve catalysts in self-healing materials. Predictions are made regarding dissolution rates of Grubbs’ catalyst in a small library of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)-active norbornenyl-based healing monomers. The Grubbs’ catalyst and the healing monomers were experimentally assigned sets of Hanse...

The living ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of trans-cyclooctene (tCO) was investigated. ROMP of tCO in the presence of PPh(3) in THF leads to the formation of narrowly dispersed polycyclooctene (PCO). The presence of PPh(3) as an additive and the use of THF as a solvent were demonstrated to be necessary to suppress competing secondary metathesis processes in the ROMP of tCO. Under...

Novel cyclic olefin polymers (COPs) derived from bulky cyclic olefins, tricyclodipentadiene (TCPD) and tricyclo[6.4.0.19,12]-tridec-10-ene (TTE), with high glass transition temperature (Tg), excellent thermal stability, and high transparency, have been synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and subsequent hydrogenation. ROMP of TCPD and TTE was carried out successfully wit...