The radical polymerization of I,1-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes with e
lectron-withdrawing substituents results in polymers with mainly 1,5-ring-o
pened units. Moreover, they show a significant lower volume shrinkage durin
g their ring-opening polymerization than other vinyl monomers, such as meth
acrylates. New asymmetric. 1,1-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes were synt
hesized and polymerized. Hybrid 2-vinylcyclopropanes were polymerized step-
by-step under the formation of reactive polymers and polymer networks. Mult
ifunctional cross-linking vinylcyclopropanes were used as new low-shrinking
matrix monomers for photopolymerizable materials. In addition, the sol-gel
process of trialkoxy-silyl-functionalized 2-vinylcyclopropanes afforded lo
w shrinking organic-inorganic nanocomposites.