Polymerization in which unsaturated monomers are transformed into unsaturated polymers by a process of bond redistribution.
Notes: - Metathesis polymerization is most often metal-catalyzed and the kinetic-chain carriers alternate between metal-carbene complexes and metallacyclobutanes or between metal-carbyne complexes and metallacyclobutenes.
- The two most common forms of metathesis polymerization are ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET). ADMET is not a chain polymerization.
Source:
PAC, 2022, 94, 1093. 'Terminology for chain polymerization (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 1133 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-1211)