First ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornenes containing cationic iron moieties

Polynorbornene have attracted a great deal of attention in light of its industrial applications as a noise- and vibration-dampening agent and a specialty elastomer. The developments in the production of substituted polynorbornenes have grown as a result of these properties, as well as the facile funtionalization and polymerization associated with the bicyclic monomer. As such, polynorbornenes containing cationic cyclopentadienyliron moieties were prepared via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of metallated norbornene monomers in the presence of a ruthenium-based catalyst. The resulting organometallic polymers were characterized using spectroscopic, electrochemical, and thermal techniques.