Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of deltacyclene via a ruthenium catalyst

Ring-opening metathesis polymn. of the title monomer (I) occurred in the presence of RuCl3 to give high-mol.-wt. unsatd. polymers contg. highly strained and reactive cyclopropane rings. The effects of water, solvent, catalyst-I ratio, and temp. on polymer wt.-av. mol. wt. were detd. A mixt. of cis and trans olefin isomers was formed in the ring-opening process catalyzed by Ru, as shown by 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Reaction of the polymer with p-MeC6H4SO2NHNH2 at 110° in xylene gave a less-sol. polymer in which the olefinic linkages were hydrogenated but the cyclopropane rings were unaffected. I was prepd. in high yield by a Co-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddn. of norbornadiene and C2H2.