A NEW ROUTE TO CONCENTRATED MICROLATEX OF HOMOGENEOUS PARTICLE-SIZE -OLIGOMERIZATION OF NORBORNENE IN AQUEOUS EMULSION CATALYZED BY PDCL2

We describe for the first time the reaction mechanism of the polymeriz ation of norbornene in aqueous emulsions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SD S) catalyzed by PdCl2. We have identified the prime role of pH in the SDS micelles for production of microlatex. The small size of the latex particles obtained (approximate to 10 nm) is noteworthy. This simple emulsion system was adapted to a continuous process giving a turnover of 70 moles of norbornene per hour per mole of catalyst.