Catalytic surfactants for ring-opening metathesis polymerization and ring-closing metathesis in non-degassed micellar solutions

Metathesis catalysts bearing long alkyl chains and analogous to Hoveyda's catalyst have been synthesized. Their surface-active properties have been characterized by formation of Langmuir films at the air-water interface. They have been dispersed in micelles formed in non-degassed water and been used in polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer. These surfactants are therefore the first inisurf molecules for metathesis polymerization that are air-stable. Their ability to catalyze ring-closing metathesis in water has also been evaluated. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.