Water-soluble polymers from norbornene monomers

Norbornene anhydride precursors were functionalized with hydrophilic moieties to yield water soluble monomers which were then polymerized without protecting groups. Homopolymer synthesis was accomplished with excellent control over molecular weight and polydispersity using Grubbs' 3rd generation catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure. Molecular weights ranged from 3 to 76 kDa with polydispersity indexes varied from 1.05 to 1.15. Copolymers were made by sequential addition of two functionalized norbornene anhydrides monomers to produce Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymers (DHBCs). All polymers were demonstrated to exist in solution as single solvated chains by dynamic and static light scattering experiments. Superabsorbent gels were prepared from carboxylic acid, amine and hydroxyl functionalized norbornene monomers. Swelling ratios for these gels were studied as a function of crosslink density and aqueous solution pH.