Alkyl substituted poly(p-phenylene vinylene)s by ring opening metathesis polymerisation

The ring opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of three n-octyl substituted [2.2] paracyclophane-1,9-dienes, initiated by Grubbs ruthenium carbene complexes is reported. The molecular weight of the resulting alkyl-substituted poly(p-phenylene vinylene) s is determined by the monomer to initiator ratio and the polymers are isolated with relatively narrow polydispersities and control of the end groups. Only the pseudo-geminal isomer of the tetra-alkyl substituted [2.2] paracyclophane-1,9-diene was susceptible to ROMP. The optical properties of the two series of polymers was investigated.