The living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of norbornene monome
rs bearing amino ester residues, using the molybdenum initiators Mo(=C
HCMe2Ph)(=N-2,6-i-Pr2C6H3)(OR)(2), (R = CMe3, I-A, CMe2CF3, I-B, CMe(C
F3)(2), I-C), is reported. The monomers are derived from reactions of
exo-and endo-himic anhydrides with the amino ester hydrochlorides of g
lycine (1), alanine (2) and isoleucine (3). The optically pure monomer
s derived from 2 and 3 afford optically active polymers whose optical
activities are independent of cis content and molecular weight, indica
ting the absence of a cooperative effect between chiral centres along
the chain. The polymers derived from the exo monomers show a cis-trans
vinylene dependence upon the ancillary alkoxide ligands of the initia
tor with I-A giving high trans contents and I-C giving high cis. The c
is/trans content for the endo polymers show relatively little or no de
pendence upon the initiator. Poly(exo-l) is exceptional in its ability
to incorporate various hydrocarbons in the solid state, including hex
ane and methane. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.