Control of macromolecular architectures by various polymerization methods:Advantages and drawbacks

The present work compares the efficiency of various polymerization methods in macromolecular engineering and discusses advantages and drawbacks of dif ferent approaches. Anionic polymerization remains the method of choice to s ynthesize cyclic polymers, functional polymers including macromonomers or f unctional star-shaped polymers. The controlled radical polymerization is an interesting alternative to anionic polymerization for the controlled homop olymerization of macromonomers yielding well-defined branched species. By c ombining classic radical polymerization with a heterogeneous reaction, netw orks were synthesized by homopolymerization of bifunctional poly(ethylene o xide) macromonomers. The resulting hydrogels, obtained directly in water, a re new materials for biomedical applications.