Ring opening metathesis polymerisation

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) is a type of olefin metathesis polymerization that produces industrially important products. The driving force of the reaction is relief of ring strain in cyclic olefins (e.g. norbornene or cyclopentene) and a wide variety of catalysts have been discovered. Research has shown that the addition of substituents to the monomer and the choice of solvent can alter the molecular weight of the polymer produced.

Mechanism

The catalysts used in the ROMP reaction include a wide variety of metals and range from a simple RuCl₃/alcohol mixture to Grubbs' catalystcite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] cite journal|title=Synthesis and Activity of a New Generation of Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Coordinated with 1,3-Dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene Ligands | author= Scholl, M.; Ding, S.; Lee, C. W.; Grubbs, R. H. |journal= Organic Letters| date=1999| volume=1| issue=6| pages= 953-956 | doi=10.1021/ol990909q]

The ROMP reaction is catalyzed primarily through the formation of metal-carbene complexes as first reported by Nobel Prize winner Yves Chauvin and his colleague Jean-Louis Hérissoncite journal|title=Polymer Synthesis and Organotransition Metal Chemistry | author= Grubbs, R.H.; Tumas, W. |journal= Science| date=1989| volume=243| issue=4893| pages=907-915 ] cite journal|title=Catalyse de transformation des oléfines par les complexes du tungstène. II. Télomérisation des oléfines cycliques en présence d'oléfines acycliques | author=Hérisson, J.L.; Chauvin, Y. |journal= Die Makromolekulare Chemie| date=1971| volume=141| issue=1| pages=161-176 | doi=10.1002/macp.1971.021410112] although a hydride mechanism has also been reportedcite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] . The initiation of the carbene species occurs through numerous pathways; solvent interactions, substituent interactions, and co-catalysts all can contribute to the production of the reactive catalytic speciescite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] cite journal|title=Influence of functional groups on ring opening metathesis polymerization and polymer properties | author=Slugovc, C.; Demel, S.; Riegler, S.; Hobisch, J.; Stelzer, F. |journal= | date=2004| volume=213| issue=1| pages=107-113 | doi= 10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.054] cite journal|title= Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene and dicylopentadiene catalyzed by Cp₂TiCl₂/RMgX| author=Zhang, D.; Huang, J.; Qian, Y.; Chan, A.S.C. |journal=| date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages=131-133 | doi=10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00087-9 ] .

The ROMP catalytic cycle requires a strained cyclic structure because the driving force of the reaction is relief of ring strain. After formation of the metal-carbene species, the carbene attacks the double bond in the ring structure forming a highly strained metallacyclobutane intermediate. The ring then opens giving the beginning of the polymer: a linear chain double bonded to the metal with a terminal double bond as well. The new carbene reacts with the double bond on the next monomer, thus propagating the reactioncite journal|title=Polymer Synthesis and Organotransition Metal Chemistry | author= Grubbs, R.H.; Tumas, W. |journal= Science| date=1989| volume=243| issue=4893| pages=907-915 ]

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olvent Effects

The choice of solvent can play a vital role in the formation of the carbene species. One example of such interactions was reported by Basset, et al regarding RuCl₃ and the effects of various alcohols on its catalytic activity. Depending upon the alcohol used, the mechanistic pathway resulted in either a reactive ruthenium-hydride species or the formation of a ruthenium-carbene. Experimental results demonstrated that by altering the solvent, the molecular weight of the polymer produced was either increased or decreased. This observation could result in increased diversity of the catalytic system enabling the production of polymers of various strengths, as polymers with higher molecular weights are typically stronger than polymers of low molecular weightscite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] . Drastic differences in the rate of the reaction were also observed, thereby supporting the conclusion that the solvent plays a role in the formation of the ruthenium-carbene.

Hamilton, et al report that altering the solvent in metal salt-type catalytic systems can drastically change the microenvironment of the system; these changes affect the tacticity of the polymer, the cis-trans ratio, and can increase the regularity of copolymerscite journal|title=Dramatic solvent effects on ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cycloalkenes | author= Samak, B.A.; Amir-Ebrahimi, V; Corry, D.; Hamilton, J.G.; Rigby, S; Rooney, J.J.; Thompson, J.M. |journal=| date=2000| volume=160| issue=1| pages=13-21 | doi=10.1016/S1381-1169(00)00228-4 ] .

ubstituent Effects

As previously stated, ROMP catalysis is dependent on ring strain. Therefore, the best substrates are bi- and tri-cyclic rings; however, these reactions can lead to numerous productsHammond, P. [http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html 10.569 Synthesis of Polymers Fall 2006 materials] ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology OpenCourseWare, 2006.] cite journal|title= Industrial applications of olefin metathesis| author=Mol, J.C. |journal=| date=2004| volume=213| issue=1| pages=39-45 | doi=10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.049] . The addition of substituents to the ring system can result in more complex or more functional polymer products. Unfortunately, substituents on the ring can react deleteriously with some of the most common catalysts. The first Grubbs’ catalyst is poisoned by nitrile or amine groupscite journal|title=Influence of functional groups on ring opening metathesis polymerization and polymer properties | author=Slugovc, C.; Demel, S.; Riegler, S.; Hobisch, J.; Stelzer, F. |journal= | date=2004| volume=213| issue=| pages=107-113 | doi= 10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.054] . Many common molybdenum or tungsten metathetical catalysts are effected by oxygenate or nitrogenous groups. Thus alternative catalysts, such as ruthenium carbene complexes that are not affected by these functional groups are being researchedcite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] .

The position of the substituent in the ring complex has a correlation to the poisoning effect on the catalystcite journal|title=An Imine Addition/Ring-Closing Metathesis Approach to the Spirocyclic Core of Halichlorine and Pinnaic Acid | author= Wright, D.L.; Schulte II, J.P.; Page, M.A |journal=Organic Letters| date=2000| volume=2| issue=13| pages=1847-1850 | doi=10.1021/ol005903b] cite journal|title=A Novel Use of Grubbs’ Carbene. Application to the Catalytic Deprotection of Tertiary Allylamines | author=Alcaide, B.; Almendros, P.; Alonso, J.; Aly, M.F |journal=Organic Letters| date=2001| volume=3| issue=23| pages=3781-3784 | doi=10.1021/ol0167412] . However, in cases where it is non-poisoning, it is also plays a role in determining the reactivity of the substrate. Substituents cannot be placed on the carbon with the double bond or the reaction will not take placeHammond, P. [http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html 10.569 Synthesis of Polymers Fall 2006 materials] ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology OpenCourseWare, 2006.] . Slugovc, et al tested the effect of numerous functional groups on the ROMP reaction using the ‘Super-Grubbs’ catalyst, (H₂IMes)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂Ru=CHPh. The experimental results show that the addition of common substituents to the reaction mixture can be used to tune the molecular weight range of the polymer producedcite journal|title=Influence of functional groups on ring opening metathesis polymerization and polymer properties | author=Slugovc, C.; Demel, S.; Riegler, S.; Hobisch, J.; Stelzer, F. |journal= | date=2004| volume=213| issue=| pages=107-113 | doi=10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.054] .

Depending on the catalyst, some substituents can increase the rate of reaction. Norbornene epoxides increase the rate of reaction when a ruthenium trichloride/alcohol mixture is used as the catalyst. Basset, et al contribute this rate increase to the production of a metallooxacyclobutane complex that, upon metathetic opening, gives the active ruthenium carbene complex directlycite journal|title=Effect of alcohols and epoxides on the rate of ROMP of norbornene by a ruthenium trichloride catalyst| author= Mutch, A.; Leconte, M.,; Lefebvre, F.; Basset, J.M. |journal= | date=1998| volume=133| issue=1-2| pages= 191-199 | doi= 10.1016/S1381-1169(98)00103-4 ] . It stands to reason that other functional groups that can react with a similar mechanistic pathway will also increase the rate of reaction.

Industrial Applications

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cycloalkenes can produce many important petrochemicals; this is of particular importance in an industrial capacity because synthetic capabilities include linear polymers from inexpensive monomers or polymers with special properties, thus compensating for an additional expense. Some examples of polymers produced on an industrial level through ROMP catalysis are Vestenamer® or trans-polyoctenamer which is the metathetical polymer of cyclooctene; Norsorex® or polynorbornene is another important ROMP product on the market; Telene® and Metton® are polydicyclopentadiene products produced in a side reaction of the polymerization of norbornenecite journal|title= Industrial applications of olefin metathesis| author=Mol, J.C. |journal=| date=2004| volume=213| issue=1| pages=39-45 | doi=10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.049] .

The ROMP process is quite useful because a regular polymer with a regular amount of double bonds is formed. The resulting product can be subjected to partial or total hydrogenation or can be functionalized into more complex compoundscite journal|title= Industrial applications of olefin metathesis| author=Mol, J.C. |journal=| date=2004| volume=213| issue=1| pages=39-45 | doi=10.1016/j.molcata.2003.10.049] .

ee also

* Ring-opening polymerization

References