Anionic chain polymerization hydride elimination

Although the living nature of anionic polymerization of styrene testifies to the relative stability of the carbanion at the chain end, observations indicate that it may undergo spontaneous transformations.182 Polystyryl sodium in THF was shown to undergo termination involving hydride elimination followed by proton transfer ... 

Additionally, if the initiation reaction is more rapid an the chain propagation, a very narrow molecular weight distribution, MJM = 1 (Poisson distribution), is obtained. Typically living character is shown by the anionic polymerization of butadiene and isoprene with the lithium alkyls [77, 78], but it has been found also in butadiene polymerization with allylneodymium compounds [49] and Ziegler-Natta catalysts containing titanium iodide [77]. On the other hand, the chain growth can be terminated by a chain transfer reaction with the monomer via /0-hydride elimination, as has already been mentioned above for the allylcobalt complex-catalyzed 1,2-polymerization of butadiene. 

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