Synthesis and Characterization of Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Products Based on 5-vinyl-2-norbornene

Sorption and membrane properties of metathesis and addition polymers based on 5-(2'-norbornanyl)-norbornene were studied. The desired monomer was prepared from 5-vinyl-2-norbornene by its selective hydrogenation to 2-vinylnorbornane followed by Diels-Alder reaction with dicyclopentadiene. Metathesis polymer was prepared in the presence of the first generation Grubbs catalyst. Addition polymerization was realized using a three component catalytic system consisting of Pd(OAc)(2) (precatalyst), NaBARF (cocatalyst, Na+[B(3,5-(CF3)(2)C6H3)(4)](-)) and a phosphine (tricyclohexylphosphine). The prepared polymers are high-molecular-weight, glassy and amorphous products. The polymers were isolated in good or high yields. Both synthesized metathesis and addition polymers showed good solubility in common organic solvents and thin, robust films were readily prepared via the solution casting method. The performed preliminary investigations showed that it is possible to obtain polymeric materials possessing large BET surface area (up to 500-700 m(2)/g) and promising gas-transport properties from norbornene derivatives with bulky and rigid carbocyclic groups.