Recent advances in ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and application to synthesis of functional materials

This article reviews the development of catalysts for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), synthesis of polymers bearing amino acids and peptides by ROMP of functionalized norbornenes, formation of aggregates and micelles, and applications of the polymers to medical materials. It also describes the control of monomer unit sequences, that is, living polymerization to synthesize block copolymers, and alternating copolymerization that is achieved on the basis of acid-base interactions. Polymer Journal (2010) 42, 905-915; doi: 10.1038/pj.2010.94; published online 13 October 2010