Chain end functionalization in nitroxide-mediated "Living" free radical polymerizations

A novel method for the functionalization of vinyl polymers prepared by nitr oxide-mediated living free radical procedures is reported. This strategy is based on the controlled monoaddition of maleic anhydride and maleimide der ivatives to the alkoxyamine chain end followed by elimination of the mediat ing nitroxide radical. This allows the introduction of a wide variety of fu nctional groups with high efficiency, while at the same time permitting the alkoxyamine functional group to be removed and the thermal stability of th e polymer chain to be increased.