The relative reactivity of 2,3-dicarbomethoxy-5-norbornenes in metathesis polymerization using the original N-chelating ruthenium carbene complex

¹H NMR spectroscopy is used to study the kinetics of metathesis copolymerization of three isomeric 2,3-dicarbomethoxy-5-norbornenes using the original N-chelating ruthenium carbene complex. Based on the experimental data the copolymerization constants of isomeric 2,3-dicarbomethoxy-5-norbornenes are calculated. It is shown that the relative reactivity of endic acid dimethyl ester-(1R,2S,3R,4S)-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate is almost two times lower than the corresponding values for (1R,2R,3S,4S)-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate, which confirms earlier findings of steric hindrance in the orientation of the monomer due to the carbene catalyst.