Living carbocationic polymerization of resonance-stabilized monomers

Living polymerization has been at the forefront of polymer science and engi neering in recent years. The term "living" is used to distinguish polymeriz ations in which chain breaking processes such as termination and transfer r eactions are absent. Living polymerization provides for the control over th e molecular weight (MW) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the poly mer sample. This paper will give a general overview about living carbocatio nic polymerization, followed by a review of recent developments with emphas is on resonance-stabilized monomers and the use of the living concept for t he design and synthesis of new polymeric structures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.