RAFTing down under: Tales of missing radicals, fancy architectures, and mysterious holes

Abstract

Abstract This highlight describes recent developments in reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Succinct coverage of the RAFT mechanism is supplemented by details of synthetic methodologies for making a wide range of architectures ranging from stars to combs, microgels, and blocks. In addition, RAFT reactions in different media such as emulsion and ionic liquids receive attention. Finally, a specific example of a novel material design is briefly introduced, whereas polymers prepared via RAFT are adopted for microporous/honeycomb membrane design. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 365–375, 2003