Ring opening metathesis catalyst systems for cyclic olefin polymerization

A catalyst for cyclic olefin polymerization, comprising a transition metal carbene having the following structure (V):

• Mv(OR′)c*mX(v-c*m-2)═C(R*)2 (V), wherein:
• Mv is a Group 5 transition metal having a valence, v, of 5 or a Group 6 transition metal having a valence (v) of 5 or 6;
• OR′ is 4-benzylphenolate or 4-(diphenylamino)phenolate;
• each R′ is independently a monovalent organic moiety comprising from 8 to 40 atoms selected from Groups 14-17;
• c is an integer from 1 to 3;
• m is 1/3, 1/2, 1, 3/2, 2, 3, or 4 and c*m≤v−2;
• X is a halogen;
• and
• each R* is independently H or a C1 to C7 alkyl,
• wherein the catalyst comprises a ring opening metathesis reaction product of
• A) at least one metal alkoxide (I) having the formula:
• m (R′O)cMuX(u-c), and
• B) at least one transition metal halide (II) having the formula:
• MvXv to form a reaction product,
• wherein,
• Mu is a Group 1, 2, or 13 metal of valence u, and
• the reaction product includes a ligand exchange involving the at least one metal alkoxide (I) that had been activated with a metal alkyl activator.