Highly efficient ring-opening metathesis polymerization ROMP

In the search of novel materials with low dielectric constants (e) and low water absorption for the electronics industry as well as transparent, high oxygen permeable and crosslinkable materials for the fast production of contact lenses, the Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) became an interesting opportunity for our company [1]. In 1988, it was shown, that strained (heterocyclic) monomers with or without pendant functionalities, especially 7-oxa-norbornene (7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene) type monomers, can be efficiently polymerized in aqueous solutions at moderate temperatures (Scheme 1) [2]. 

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