Synthesis of sequence-specific vinyl copolymers by regioselective ROMP of multiply substituted cyclooctenes

A variety of multisubstituted cyclooctenes were prepared and employed as monomers for ring-opening metathesis polymerization using the Grubbs second or third generation catalysts. The resulting polymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. Monomers possessing a substituent at the 3-position afforded highly regio- and stereoregular polyalkenamers, from which the corresponding sequence-specific vinyl quaterpolymers were obtained upon hydrogenation. Simultaneous control of tacticity was also demonstrated by employing monomers with defined stereochemistry.