One-pot synthesis of end-functionalised soluble star-shaped polymers by living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst.

Precise synthesis of soluble star-shaped polymers has been achieved by adopting living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst with sequential addition of norbornene and cross-linking agent; the method provides efficient one-pot synthesis of high molecular weight end-functionalised star-shaped polymers ( M n = >1.37 × 10 5 ) with more arms (branching) with rather low PDI values ( M w / M n = 1.17-1.37) under the optimised conditions.