Development of hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers

New hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers with excellent thermal an d optical properties were developed. These polymers were prepared by the ri ng-opening metathesis polymerization of ester-substituted tetracyclododecen e monomers followed by the hydrogenation of the main-chain double bond. The degree of hydrogenation was an important factor for the thermal stability of the polymers, and as complete hydrogenation as possible was necessary to obtain a thermally stable polymer. The completely hydrogenated ring-openin g polymer derived from 8-methyl-8-methoxy-carbonyl-substituted monomer has a glass-transition temperature of 171 degreesC and a 5% weight-loss tempera ture of 446 degreesC. This polymer has excellent thermal and optical proper ties because of its bulky and unsymmetrical polycyclic structure in the mai n chain and is an alternative to glass or other transparent polymers such a s poly(methyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate resin. This polymer has also been used in a wide variety of applications, such as optical lenses, optica l disks, optical films, and optical fiber. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.