An "Endless" Route to Cyclic Polymers
Christopher W. Bielawski,
Diego Benitez,
Robert H. Grubbs*
A new synthetic route to cyclic polymers has been
developed in which the ends of growing polymer chains remain attached
to a metal complex throughout the entire polymerization process. The
approach eliminates the need for linear polymeric precursors and high
dilution, drawbacks of traditional macrocyclization strategies, and it
effectively removes the barrier to producing large quantities of pure
cyclic material. Ultimately, the strategy offers facile access to
a unique macromolecular scaffold that may be used to meet the
increasing demand of new applications for commercial polymers. As a
demonstration of its potential utility, cyclic polyethylenes were
prepared and found to exhibit a variety of physical properties that
were distinguishable from their linear analogs.
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratories of Chemical Synthesis,
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of
Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed.
