Schrock Catalyst Triggered, Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Based Synthesis of Functional Monolithic Materials

Abstract

The synthesis of monolithic materials via the Schrock catalyst triggered ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) is described. Mo(N-2,6-(2-Pr)2-C6H3)(CHCMe2Ph)(OCMe3)2 (1) was used as an initiator. Using various ratios of norborn-2-ene (NBE) and 1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-1,4,5,8-exo,endo-dimethanonaphthalene (DMN-H6) in different mixtures of micro- with macroporogens, i.e., 1,2-dichloroethane, toluene and THF with hexane or pentane, monolithic polymeric materials with continuous, interconnected pores in the micrometer range as well as with micro- and mesopores in the 1.5−300 nm range could be synthesized within the confines of 3 × 100 mm glass columns. The resulting monoliths were characterized via inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC) in terms of the total pore volume (Vp), the volume fraction of the pore porosity (ϵp), the volume fraction of the interstitial porosity (ϵz) and the pore size distribution. Finally, the novel monoliths were successfully used for the fast separation of proteins as well as of 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC) protected amino acids.