Developments in Externally Regulated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Abstract

This account details externally regulated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) methods. Various external stimuli are discussed which collectively span chemical, thermal, photochemical, electrochemical, and mechanical modes of catalyst activation. Specific attention is also given to the recent development of a metal-free approach to ROMP that includes electro-organic and photoredox-mediated systems. 1 Introduction 2 Externally Regulated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization 2.1 Acid-Activated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalysts 2.2 Thermally Activated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalysts 2.3 Mechanically Activated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalysts 2.4 Photochemically Activated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalysts 2.5 Redox-Activated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalysts 3 Metal-Free Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization 3.1 Electro-organic Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization 3.2 Photoredox-Mediated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization 4 Conclusions and Outlook