Ionic Polymerization in Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Ionic liquids have emerged as a new class of solvents for ionic polymerization due to their low volatility, chemical stability, high conductivity, wide electrochemical window. The advantages and limitations of application of ionic liquids as solvents for ionic polym-erization processes are critically discussed in this chapter. The field of cationic polymer-ization in ionic liquid has undergone rapid growth in recent years. The most important types of cationic monomers, such as styrene and its derivatives, vinyl ethers and iso-butylene have been polymerized in ionic liquids; even undergo living polymerization. Corresponding elementary reactions of cationic polymerization in ionic liquids were proposed. Methyl methacrylate and styrene can undergo anionic polymerization in ionic liquids. However, ionic liquids seem unsuitable solvents for anionic polymerization.