BLOCK AND GRAFT-COPOLYMERS BY LIVING RING-OPENING OLEFIN METATHESIS POLYMERIZATION

The present paper reviews recent developments on the application of titanacyclobutane-initiated 'living' olefin metathesis polymerization for the preparation of new polymer structures. These are block and graft copolymers containing polymer blocks obtained by olefin metathesis polymerization. The Wittig-type reaction of titanacyclobutane end groups allowed the preparation of AB-type diblock copolymers by changing from olefin metathesis to group transfer polymerization. The same type of reaction was used to link preformed polymer blocks to give ABA-type triblock copolymers and graft copolymers.