Real time monitoring by time-domain NMR of ring opening metathesis copolymerization of norbornene-based red palm olein monomer with norbornene

Changes in molecular mobility throughout the metathesis copolymerization of a norbornene functionalized with a palm olein monomer and a pure norbornene were monitored in situ by time-domain H-1 NMR, using a ruthenium catalyst. Reaction progress to produce branched palm oil-based copolymers was studied as a function of the amounts of monomers and catalyst. Transverse relaxation rates were determined from CPMG experiments and the results were in accordance with the reactivity ratios, which indicated production of gradient copolymers. Properties of the resulting material observed through TD-NMR measurements of the isolated copolymers corroborated the type of the used monomers. TD-NMR demonstrated to be a useful tool for learning copolymerization reactions, particularly in ROMP, for the first time.