Publications
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Publications at Wesleyan
Synthesis of Polyesters from Carbon Dioxide and Monomers Non-Conjugated Terminal Alkynes and Alkyl Halides
Jessa R. Zovinka, Claire A. Larson, Kayla Alexander, Graham C. Gilchrist, and Benjamin R. Elling
Submitted 2026
Strain-Driven Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Benjamin R. Elling and William J. Neary
Chem. Rev. 2026, 126, 7, 4318–4374
Featured on the issue cover!
A Computational/Experimental Investigation into the Reversibility of [6+4]/[4+2] Cycloadditions with Tropone Derivatives
Abdulrahman Bashir, Dexter Ixcoy Perez, Maya L. Milrod, Sophia H. Morgan, Oliver R. Meier, Sunjay D. Riener, Hector M. Contreras, Brian H. Northrop, and Benjamin R. Elling
J. Org. Chem. 2026, accepted
Covalent Adaptable Networks: Reprocessable Cross-Linked Polymers
Molly Sun, Lillian M. Felsenthal, Subeen Kim, Elizabeth Y. Choi, Laura J. Reed, Benjamin R. Elling, William R. Dichtel
Chem. Rev. 2026, 126, 1829−1948
Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of (Oxa)Norbornenes with Sulfonate, Sulfone, and Sulfoxide Sidechains
Oliver P. Clarke, Abdulrahman Bashir, Sophie Wazlowski, Sara Ptaszynska, Brian H. Northrop*, Benjamin R. Elling
Polym. Chem., 2025, 16, 1653
Featured on the issue cover!
Allylic Epoxides Increase the Strain Energy of Cyclic Olefin Monomers for Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Kyle R. Sylvester, Jessa R. Zovinka, Maya L. Milrod, Alexandra K. Stubin, Angela Rojas-Merchan, Kayla Alexander, Benjamin R. Elling
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202414872
Named a “Hot Paper”
Publications at Northwestern and Stanford
Swartz, J. R.; Elling, B. R.; Castano, I.; Thompson, M. P.; Sheppard, D. T.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Dichtel, W. R. (2022) Copolymers Prepared by Exchange Reactions Enhance the Properties of Miscible Polymer Blends Macromolecules, 55, 8548
Elling, B. R.; Su, J. K.; Xia, Y. (2021) Polymerization of Cyclopropenes: Taming the Strain for Synthesis of Controlled and Sequence-Regulated Polymers Acc. Chem. Res. 54, 356
Elling, B. R.; Dichtel, W. R. (2020) Reprocessable Cross-Linked Polymer Networks: Are Associative Exchange Mechanisms Desirable? ACS Cent. Sci., 6 (9), 1488
Su, J. K.; Lee, S. Y.; Elling, B. R.; Xia, Y. (2020) Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of 1,1-Disubstituted 1-Methylcyclopropenes. Macromolecules, 53 (14), 5833
Elling, B. R.; Su, J. K.; Xia, Y. (2020) Degradable Polyacetals/ketals from Alternating Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. ACS Macro Lett. 9, 180.
Elling, B. R. (2019) Potential Energy: Not Looking Ridiculous is Overrated. Chem 5 (10), 2506.
Elling, B. R.; Su, J. K.; Feist, J. D.; Xia, Y. (2019) Precise Placement of Single Monomer Units in Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. Chem 5 (10), 2691.
Previewed by Hawker, C. J. et al. (2019) Placing Functionality Where You Want: The Allure of Sequence Control. Chem. 5 (10), 2510-2512
Highlighted in C&EN Magazine (2019) New Method Places Single, Specific Monomers in Polymer Chains
Elling, B. R.; Xia, Y. (2018) Efficient and Facile End Group Control of Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymers via Single Addition of Functional Cyclopropenes. ACS Macro Lett. 7 (6), 656.
Elling, B. R.; Su, J. K.; Xia, Y. (2016) Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropenes. Chem. Commun. 52, 9097.
Elling, B. R.; Xia, Y. (2015) Living Alternating Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Based on Single Monomer Additions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 137 (31), 9922.