Controlled synthesis of functionalized polymers by transition-metal-mediated living radical polymerization

This paper discusses recent progress in transition-metal-catalyzed living r adical polymerizations, partly focusing on the search of metal complex cata lysts that play a critical role in controlling polymer molecular weights, t heir distributions, and architectures. Following a brief overview of the de sign of initiating systems (initiators and metal catalysts), half-metalloce ne-type complex catalysts are presented that induce living radical polymeri zations of methacrylates, acrylates, and styrene to give markedly narrow mo lecular weight distributions and controlled molecular weights. Some of thes e half metallocenes also work in water where suspension living radical poly merization is feasible.