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Multicyclic polymer synthesis via a consecutive cyclization approach

Polymer Journal volume 57, pages 1295–1311 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Macromolecules with cyclic topologies have attracted significant attention because of the absence of polymer chain ends that clearly distinguishes them from linear or branched polymers. However, the synthesis of macrocyclic polymers, particularly those possessing multiple cyclic units, remains challenging. Recently, our research group established a highly efficient method for the synthesis of multicyclic polymers without the use of cyclic precursors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our recent studies and relevant research on the precise synthesis of multicyclic polymers, including cage-shaped polymers, spiro-multicyclic polymers, and graft polymers with macromolecular cyclic or cage side chains, via intramolecular ring-opening metathesis oligomerization or the cyclopolymerization of norbornenyl-functionalized macromonomers, mediated by third-generation Grubbs catalysts. In addition, their fundamental properties and potential applications are briefly discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by a MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (19K22209 and 24K21788), JST CREST (JPMJCR19T4), the Eno Scientific Foundation, Tokyo Ohka Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology, and the Sumitomo Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan

    Yamato Ebii

  2. Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan

    Minami Ebe, Feng Li, Takuya Isono & Toshifumi Satoh

  3. List Sustainable Digital Transformation Catalyst Collaboration Research Platform (ICReDD List-PF), Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan

    Toshifumi Satoh

  4. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, 320317, Taiwan

    Toshifumi Satoh

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  1. Yamato Ebii
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Correspondence to Takuya Isono or Toshifumi Satoh.

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Ebii, Y., Ebe, M., Li, F. et al. Multicyclic polymer synthesis via a consecutive cyclization approach. Polym J 57, 1295–1311 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-025-01078-w

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