Synthesis of norbornenyl telechelic polyphosphazenes and ring-opening metathesis polymerization reactions

Mono- and ditelechelic linear polyphosphazenes, functionalized with a norbo rnene end group, were synthesized through the termination of living poly(di chlorophosphazene) with norbornenyl phosphoranimines. These materials were employed as macromonomers for the synthesis of graft copolymers via the rin g-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of the terminal norbornenyl comp onent. Norbornenyl monotelechelic polyphosphazenes with various molecular w eights yielded un-cross-linked graft copolymers when subjected to ROMP. The ditelechelic polyphosphazenes yielded branched or crosslinked materials du e to the multiple reactive sites. In addition, the 5-norbornene-2-methoxy p hosphoranimine was polymerized via ROMP to yield materials that consisted o f a polynorbornene backbone with phosphoranimine pendent side groups.