Iniferter concept and living radical polymerization

Abstract

Iniferters induce radical polymerization that proceeds via initiation, propagation, primary radical termination, and transfer to initiator. From the viewpoint of controlled polymer synthesis, iniferters can be classified into several types: thermal or photoiniferters; monomeric, polymeric, or gel iniferters; monofunctional, difunctional, trifunctional, or polyfunctional iniferters; monomer or macromonomer iniferters; among others. These lead to the synthesis of various monofunctional, telechelic, block, graft, star, and crosslinked polymers.