Controlled radical polymerizations can be achieved by using either uni
molecular or bimolecular exchange between growing radicals and dormant
chains. Dormant chains can be represented as either covalent species
or organometallic compounds. Systems based on alkoxyamines, organochro
mium, organoaluminum compounds, and alkyl iodides are discussed in det
ail. In many systems, straight semilogarithmic plots indicate a consta
nt number of growing radicals. A linear increase of molecular weights
with conversion indicates a constant number of chains capable of growt
h but being predominantly in the dormant state. Some of these systems
can be used in the synthesis of block copolymers and for end-functiana
lization.