Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Tertiary Amide Monomers Derived from a Biobased Oxanorbornene

Ring-opening metathesis
polymerization (ROMP) of biobased oxanorbornene
amides by Grubbs second generation catalyst was used to prepare a
range of well-defined homo- and copolymers. A series of 11 amide monomers,
featuring a variety of functionalities including amino acids and peptides,
have been synthesized from a biobased oxanorbornene acid, prepared
through the 100% atom economical tandem Diels–Alder lactonization
between itaconic anhydride and furfuryl alcohol. The polymerization
has been shown to be well-controlled, with the prepared homo- and
copolymers possessing controlled molecular weights with narrow polydispersities.