Poly(norbornene) supported side-chain coordination complexes: an efficient route to functionalized polymers

This thesis begins with a brief overview of current strategies used in the synthesis of side-chain functionalizad polymers and materials. The discussion then focuses more explicitly on transition metal-based motifs and methodologies that are employed in polymer functionalization and continues with a more detailed overview of this field. The primary hypothesis that is addressed herein is that combining the versatility and strength of metal-ligand interactions with the efficiency and functional group tolerance of ROMP comprises a useful method of generating a variety of functionalized polymers and materials via side-chain metal coordination. Thus, the goal is to test this hypothesis by synthesizing functionalized polymers with a range of useful properties to demonstrate the relevance and importance of this methodology, by employing several different strategies to show the synthetic ease by which the materials can be realized. The strategies and methods discussed in the synthesis of side-chain functionalized polymers are divided into three subgroups: (1) pre-polymerization functionalization, in which all of the modifications take place on the monomer with polymerization as the last step, (2) post-polymerization functionalization, in which the polymer itself is subsequently modified, and (3) combinations of the first two strategies. It is shown that useful functional polymers and materials can be synthesized by any of the above strategies, and representative examples of each are given in both the introduction and in the body of work presented. Modes of functionalization are all based on transition metal coordination, and polymerizations are primarily carried out via ROMP. Metal coordination is shown to be a useful technique for functionalizing polymers, to creating supported emissive complexes, to modulating solution viscosity. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the various strategies presented herein, and potential future directions are discussed.Ph.D