Design of biomaterials through direct ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of functionalised cyclic alkenes

Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) has become a popular method for synthesising complex functional polymers owing to the high functional group tolerance of metathesis catalysts. In recent years, ROMP has emerged as an indispensable approach for the design and synthesis of polymeric biomaterials, allowing for precise control of polymer structure and introduction of complex polar functional groups that are challenging to access through conventional polymerisation methods. In this review, we present examples of precision polymer synthesis with polar functional groups and their utilisation as soft-biomaterials in biotechnology and biomedical fields. Specifically, we focus on two approaches: the underexplored ROMP of functionalised monocyclic alkenes and the dominant methods of synthesising biomaterials using functionalised norbornene.

Automated summary

Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) has become a popular method to synthesize complex functional polymers, due to the high tolerance of metathesis catalysts towards functional groups. It has emerged as an indispensable approach for designing and synthesizing polymeric biomaterials, enabling precise control over polymer structure and introduction of complex polar functional groups inaccessible by conventional polymerization methods. In this review, examples of precision polymer synthesis with polar functional groups are presented, along with their utilization as soft biomaterials in biotechnology and biomedical fields. Specifically, ROMP of functionalized monocyclic alkenes and synthesis of biomaterials using functionalized norbornene are discussed.