The formation of photodegradable nitrophenylene polymers via ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A photodegradable nitrophenylene polymer was prepared via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Newly designed macrocyclic monomers bearing an ortho-nitrobenzyl ester were successfully polymerized by using a Grubbs-type catalyst within 30 minutes. The DFT calculated Gibbs free energies of ring-opening reactions support polymerization reactivities from macrocyclic monomers with low ring strain. The resulting polymers were cleaved in the presence of UVA light without any chemical additives within 1 hour.