LIST OF FIGURES

Figure page

1 2nd Generation Grubbs' catalyst ....................................... .............. ... 3

2 Complexation with 2nd generation Grubbs' catalyst............................................. 25

3 M o l's c ataly st ...................... .. ............. .. .............................................2 6

4 H oveyda's cataly st ....................................................... .. ........ .... ..... ...... 26

5 Synthesis and yields of a,co-diene monomers........... ................................. 27

6 Polymerization reaction for m onomers 1-6................................... .................28

7 Hydrogenation reaction to saturate the olefin backbones of polymers 7-12,
 yielding polym ers 13-18............... .. ...... .. ...... ........ ............ ............. 31