Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization is a unique strategy for achieving polymers with precise control over the primary structure. This precision is obtained by specifi c monomer design and carefully controlled polymerization conditions. Over time, this approach has produced an array of sophisticated architectures ranging from precise polyethylenes, to hyperbranched polymers, to rotaxanes.ADMET polymerization (Figure 1 ) comprises an α,ω-diene monomer and a suitable olefi n metathesis catalyst. Typically the metathesis precatalyst is activated by the initial reaction with the diene monomer, yielding a metal alkylidene species, which subsequently reacts with another diene, releasing the newly formed dimer and the metal methylidene species. The metal methylidene is generally regarded as the true catalytic species in the reaction. Subsequent reactions with monomer or polymer produce ethylene, which is typically removed under high vacuum conditions. The removal of ethylene drives the reaction toward polymer formation due to the equilibrium nature of the polymerization. [ 2 ] The history of ADMET's discovery has been detailed elsewhere, [ 3,4 ] but it is important to point out that the development of ADMET polymerization is the direct result of breakthroughs in olefi n metathesis catalysis by Schrock [5][6][7][8][9][10] and Grubbs. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Without the creation of effective olefi n metathesis catalysts (Figure 2 ), effi cient ADMET polymerization would not be possible. Here we review the development of "precision polyolefi ns," and the most recent advances in ADMET chemistry.
Precision Polyolefi nsConventional ADMET polymerization results in an allhydrocarbon backbone. Consequently, it is a useful method of synthesizing polymers that model commercially