α,ω-Bis(trialkoxysilyl) Telechelic Polyolefin/Polyether Copolymers for Adhesive Applications Using Ring-Opening Insertion Metathesis Polymerization Combined with a Chain-Transfer Agent

Monocomponent alkoxysilyl telechelic rigid polyolefins incorporating soft polyether segments along the backbone are valuable adhesives precursors. Herein, the synthesis of α,ω-bis(trialkoxysilyl) telechelic polycyclooctene (PCOE)/poly(propylene glycol31diurethane diacrylate) (PPG*) copolymers is reported from the original combination of Ru-catalyzed ring-opening insertion-metathesis polymerization (ROIMP) with cross metathesis (CM) in the presence of bis(trialkoxysilyl)alkenes as chain-transfer agents (CTAs). The one-pot ROIMP/CM of COE and PPG* diacrylate with {(EtO)3Si(CH2)3NHC(O)OCH2CH═}2 (CTAEt) as the CTA catalyzed by Grubb’s second generation catalyst selectively affords α,ω-[(EtO)3Si]2-PCOE/PPG* copolymers, which show a good thermal stability and a Bingham plastic behavior, as revealed by DSC and rheology. Subsequent curing of the copolymers upon action of moisture with various catalysts unveiled wood-adhesion properties superior to those of commercial silyl-modified polymer (SMP) references.