Homogeneous metathesis polymerization by well-defined group VI and group VIII transition-metal alkylidenes: Fundamentals and applications in the preparation of advanced materials

Olefin metathesis represents a comparably young area of chemistry. The potential applications of metathesis-based reactions such as ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET), alkyne polymerization and ring-closing metathesis in materials science were soon recognized. The synthesis and the basic principles of modern, well-defined groups VI and VIII transition metal alkylidenes are presented. Their potential for use in ROMP, ADMET polymerization and alkyne metathesis polymerization is explored.