PROCESS FOR POLYMERISING CYCLIC OLEFINS AND A PHOTOPOLYMERISABLE COMPOSITION

摘要

The proposed process for polymerising a cyclic olefin or at least two different cyclic olefins in the presence of a metal compound as catalyst is characterised by the fact that photochemical ring opening metathesis polymerisation is carried out in the presence of a catalytic quantity of at least one thermostable niobium (group V) or tantalum (group V) compound containing at least two methyl groups or two monosubstituted methyl groups bound to the metal; the substituent contains no hydrogen atom at the .alpha.position. The process can also be conducted in such a way that irradiation is carried out first and polymerisation is completed by heating. The process can be used in the production of thermoplastic moulding materials, coating and reliefs.