Synthesis of Various Functional Block Copolymers via Controlled Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization and the Subsequent Chemical Modifications

Several polynorbornene or poly(norbornene-7-oxide) based functional block copolymers were synthesized by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with good molecular weight and polydispersity control. Some representative functional groups in these polymers are a nitrobenzoyl group or ferrocene. These polymers were subjected to various chemical modification reactions to give other block copolymers that contain novel functionality such as amine, diazonium salt, and diazo groups. The resulting polymers were characterized by various techniques such as GPC, NMR, UV-VIS, AFM, and cyclovotammography (CV).