Anionic polymerization of methacrylic monomers: characterization of the propagating species

Ligation of the anionic species responsible for the polymerization (LAP) of alkyl(meth)acrylates has much contributed to improve polymerization contro l. This ligated anionic polymerization has been firstly studied by using mo del compounds, such as low molecular weight lithium ester enolates. Recentl y, effort has been devoted to the direct analysis of the species that propa gate the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates. In addition to IR, mult inuclear NMR spectroscopy has been very instrumental in the elucidation of the structure and aggregation of the active species and how these character istic features are modified by the addition of various types of ligands. Th is substantial progress in the characterization of the polyalkyl(meth)acryl ate anions, ligated or not, is reported in this review. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.