Recent Developments in Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Abstract

Properties and applications of newly developed homogeneous Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization catalysts as well as Photo-induced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization catalysts are discussed. In contrast to well-defined, one-component metal-carbene catalysts, the aqueous ROMP with simple Ru^II salts is a chain reaction and not a living polymerization. One-component Photo-ROMP initiators were developed with good thermal latency and are either based on early-transition-metal alkyl complexes or on [Ru(arene)₂]²⁺ complexes. Mechanistic aspects of the photochemically induced solvation of Ru^II complexes are presented.