RING-OPENING METATHESIS COPOLYMERIZATION OF CYCLOPENTENE AND [2.2]PARACYCLOPHANE-1,9-DIENE - UV-VIS-SPECTROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF SEQUENCE-LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF P-PHENYLENEVINYLENE UNITS

Ring-opening metathesis copolymerization of cyclopentene (CPE) with [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-diene (PCPDE) was achieved using the stable tungsten carbene W (CHAr') (NAr) [OCMe (CF3)2]2 (THF) (Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H3, Ar' = o-MeOC6H4) (I). UV-Vis-spectroscopic characterization of the soluble copolymers containing 0.1-1% PCPDE proved that PCPDE rings are not only opened to yield [= CH-Phenylene-CH = CH-Phenylene-CH =] units, but as the reaction continues these are largely split to give [= CH-Phenylene-CH =] units which are distributed statistically in the polymer chain.