Anionic living polymerization of functionalized monomers

We have described here a recent development of the anionic living polymerization of functionalized styrène derivatives. By means of the protection of the functional group and the deliberate introduction of a functional group with an electron-withdrawing character, novel anionic living polymers with a wide variety of functional groups have been obtained. Moreover, it has been found that several functionalized styrène derivatives with reactive silyl groups, which are susceptible to anion attack, undergo anionic living polymerization. Many well-defined functionalized polystyrenes and block copolymers previously unknown have become accessible. In principle, the methodologies successful in the anionic living polymerization of functionalized styrènes can be extended to the anionic polymerizations of other vinyl monomers amenable to living polymerization, such as 1,3butadiene, isoprene, 2- and 4-vinylpyridines, and alkyl (meth)acrylates. In fact, some successful examples have recently appeared. Further synthesis of many new living polymers with functional groups will be expected by this extension. In addition, we believe that such successful methodologies can also allow extension of other living polymerization systems to synthesize many novel functionalized polymers with well-defined structures. © WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, 1998 .