Novel routes to polyelectrolytes and reactive polymers via ROMP

Various derivatives of norbornene and 7-oxanorbornenedicarboxylic acid have been synthesized and polymerized via Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerizatio n (ROMP). The introduction of tetrahydropyranyl moieties as protection grou ps opened a way for the synthesis of polyelectrolytes through well-defined transition metal alkylidene catalysts that are usually deactivated by react ions with acidic protons. The incorporation of methacrylate groups in the p olycarboxylic acids was achieved either by copolymerization of methacrylate functionalized norbornene or 7-oxanorbornene derivatives, or by the polyme r analogous reaction of the polycarboxylic acids with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). These materials are soluble in water as well as in ethanol and unde rgo cross-linking reactions initiated by UV light. (C) 2000 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.