Acid activation of ruthenium metathesis catalysts and living ROMP metathesis polymerization in water

A process for performing a ring opening metathesis polymerization reaction comprising:

• contacting a cyclic olefin monomer with an inorganic or organic acid and a ruthenium carbene complex of the formula:
• R′ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
• PR3 is a phosphine of the formula PR3R4R5 wherein R3 is selected from the group consisting of secondary alkyl and cycloalkyl, and R4 and R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, C1-C10 primary alkyl, secondary alkyl and cycloalkyl;
• and
• each remaining R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl.

A process for performing a ring opening metathesis polymerization reaction comprising:

• contacting a cyclic olefin monomer with a ruthenium carbene complex of the formula:
• wherein:
• Cy is cyclohexyl,
• R is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• and X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, CH3CO2 and CF3CO2, and
• wherein the ring opening polymerization reaction is conducted in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid and in an aqueous or alcoholic solvent or mixtures thereof.

A process for performing an olefin metathesis reaction comprising:

• contacting an unsaturated polymer with a ruthenium carbene complex of the formula:
• AxLyXzRu═CHR′
• in the presence of inorganic or organic acid,
• wherein:
• x=0, 1, or 2;
• y=0, 1, or 2;
• and
• z=1 or 2;
• and wherein:
• R′ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl;
• L is any neutral electron donor;
• X is any anionic ligand;
• and
• A is a ligand having a covalent structure connecting a neutral electron donor and an anionic ligand.