Group Transfer Polymerization and Its Relationship to Other Living Systems

The large number of organic function groups that can be attached to the ester function of methacrylate and acrylate monomers makes this series of monomers attractive for synthesis of polymers with diverse properties. When this diversity of functionality is coupled with living polymerization techniques the range of new product possibilities is staggering. Polymer synthesis chemists have therefore been searching for living polymer systems for methacrylates and acrylates that operate at above ambient temperature, use reasonably low cost initiators, tolerate moderate amounts of impurities, control chain tacticity and allow the functionality that is to be introduced to survive the polymerization process.