Principles of Anionic Polymerization: An Introduction
Abstract
The general mechanistic aspects of living alkyllithium-initiated polymerization of styrenes and dienes are presented. The structural variables which can be controlled are discussed including molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Methods for the synthesis of well-defined block copolymers, star polymers and chain-end functionalized polymers are described. New developments in polymer synthesis using functionalized alkyllithium initiators are presented. The controlled alkyllithium-initiated polymerization of alkyl methacrylates is considered in terms of proper choice of initiator, solvent and temperatures. New additives which permit anionic alkyl methacrylate and acrylate polymerization at higher temperatures are discussed. The anionic polymerization of alkylene oxides (epoxides) is discussed with emphasis on ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The mechanism and characteristics of anionic polymerization of lactams are also described.
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The aggregation of alkali metal salts, lithium in particular, often complicates the polymerization kinetics.
“The aggregation of alkali metal salts, lithium in particular, often complicates the polymerization kinetics.287”
From Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers (2018) · cites this paper as [287]
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“The widely accepted structure of the non-associated polystyryllithium chain-end (PStLi) in non-polar solvents is the structure in which Li is bound to the α-carbon of the side chain, P’–CH2–CHLi–Ph [4], which is the same as that in polar solvents.”
BackgroundStopping the Chain: Isolated Molecular Intermediates of Anionic Styrene Polymerization
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INFLUENCE OF POLAR MODIFIERS ON THE ANIONIC SOLUTION 1,3-BUTADIENE POLYMERIZATIONS
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““Living anionic polymerization” (LAP) is a powerful synthetic method to synthe-size well-defined polymers, block copolymers, and functional polymers [32].”
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Tong, X., Yang, X. S., Wang, Y., et al. (2025) · Macromolecules · doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.5c00721
„Stopping the Chain“: Isolierte molekulare Zwischenstufen der anionischen Styrolpolymerisation
Schmidt, A., & Strohmann, C. (2025) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.202510397
- Authors
- Quirk, R. P., Zhuo, Q., Jang, S. H., Lee, Y., & Lizarraga, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Akron (US)
- ORCID
- Lee, Youngjoon
- Venue
- ACS Symposium Series
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Published
- 1998-06-30
- Pages
- 2-27
- ISSN
- 0097-6156 (ISSN-L)
- 1947-5918
- OpenAlex
- W2506113876
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 2.29
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- ACS symposium series (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Keywords
- anionic polymerization, living polymerization, styrene polymerization, diene polymerization, block copolymers, star polymers, alkyl methacrylates, acrylates, polymerization additives, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, lactam polymerization, molecular weight distribution
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