What is Norbornene?
TOPAS Advanced Polymers is the world's largest producer of the monomer and chemical intermediate norbornene (2-norbornene, norbornen, or norbornylene). This versatile bridged, unsaturated cyclic molecule is used in pharmaceutical intermediates, agricultural compounds, specialty fragrances and high-damping rubber. It is also used in the manufacture of TOPAS® COC (cyclic olefin copolymer) plastic resins, which are high performance copolymers of ethylene and 2-norbornene used in many medical, packaging and electronic applications.
- Formula: C7H10
- Molar mass: 94.2 g/mol
- Melting point: 46°C
- Boiling point: 96°C
We offer both standard and high-purity versions of this bicyclic olefin. It is made by the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene and ethylene, two readily available hydrocarbons. The resulting molecule, a bicyclic olefin, is a bridged six-membered ring with a double bond on one side. The bridged ring puts extra strain on the double bond, making it highly reactive and useful in organic chemical synthesis. Reactions include ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), radical or cationic polymerization, and vinyl or addition polymerization.
Norbornene is available in Europe from TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH. Please contact us to learn more about supply options.