Various Types of Living Polymerization and Block Copolymer

The characteristics of various types of living polymerization such as free-radical, cationic, anionic, coordination and ring-opening metathesis polymerizations and the formation of block copolymers by sequential monomer addition method were reviewed. In the case of free-radical polymerization, three individual methods such as nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) processes were compared concerning with the reaction condition and the kinds of applicable monomers. For anionic processes, principle mechanisms of immortal polymerizations and group transfer polymerization (GTP) as well as classical living anionic polymerization were reviewed. The unique feature of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was also described.