Recent development of transition metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization-design and development of the metal complexes

Abstract

This article covers recent developments in transition metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization, specifically focusing on the design of the metal complexes. The metal-catalyzed systems, each consisting of an organic halide (initiator) and a metal complex (catalyst), polymerize a wide variety of vinyl monomers to give polymers with controlled molecular weights, their narrow distributions, and well-defined main-chain and/or end-group structures. The polymerization proceeds via radical species generated by the reversible and homolytic activation of terminal dormant carbon-halogen bonds by transition metal complexes. Careful selections of the central metal and the ligands are necessary depending on the types of monomers. In addition to the scope and the design of the metal catalysts, the article also outlines the polymerization mechanism and living radical polymerization in aqueous media.