Catalytic Chain Transfer Polymerization: an Overview

Abstract

Catalytic chain transfer polymerization is a very efficient and versatile free-radical polymerization technique for the synthesis of functional macromonomers. The process is based on the ability of certain transition metal complexes, most notably of low-spin CoII complexes such as cobaloximes, to catalyse the chain transfer to monomer reaction. A brief overview is given of the applications and the mechanistic understanding of catalytic chain transfer polymerization.