Main group functionalized polymers through ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)

The incorporation of main group elements into polymers allows for the generation of new functional materials with hitherto-unattainable physical and chemical properties through the unique molecular geometries, electronic structures, and chemical reactivities of main group element-based functional groups. The synthesis of these novel materials requires highly controllable polymerizations which are tolerant of diverse functionalized monomers. In this review, we highlight recent developments in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) as a versatile and advantageous method for the generation of new main group element-functionalized hybrid materials. The unique applications of ROMP-derived main group-functionalized polymers in membranes and polyelectrolytes, resins, composites, elastomers, and other engineering materials, ceramic precursors and flame retardants, polymeric ligands and metallopolymers, polymeric catalysts and reagents, and optoelectronic materials are described.