Thiol- and Disulfide-Functionalized Polycyclooctene: Metathesis Polymerization, Degradation, and Reformation

The enormous global production and use of polymers and plastics, combined with slower and less efficient disposal and recycling methods, have led to a worldwide growth in plastic waste. Here, we describe an approach that builds degradability into macromolecular polyolefins through the design of telechelic oligomers with reactive functional groups that enables control over polymer deconstruction and reconstruction. Our work exploits disulfide-containing polymers that have emerged as promising cyclable materials due to their dynamic reversibility (bond formation and cleavage) driven by redox chemistry under mild conditions. Specifically, we describe the synthesis of a telechelic α,ω-dithiopolycyclooctene (PCOE) by ring-opening metathesis polymerization using a dithioacetate chain transfer agent, followed by deprotection to convert the chain-end thioacetates to thiols. This process was studied towards control over the degree of oxidation to yield disulfide-containing PCOE, followed by an evaluation of reductive degradation and oxidative repolymerization. Overall, this approach facilitates the production of disulfide-containing unsaturated polyolefins and the integration of degradable and reformable moieties into soluble, processable, metathesis-derived polymers.