Intramolecular-intermolecular chain propagation, alternating

The radical polymerization of acrylic anhydride(AA) as a typical 1,6-diene has been investigated in detail in terms of cyclopolymerization. Thus, in 1958 Crawshaw and Butler(31) and Jones(32) have independently demonstrated that AA could be polymerized in solution by an alternating intramolecular-intermolecular chain propagation or cyclopolymerization, leading to the formation of saturated, linear polymers consisting exclusively of six-membered ring anhydride structure. Later, Mercier and Smets(33)... 

Intermolecular chain transfer reactions may occur between two propagating polymer chains and result in the termination of one of the chains. Alternatively, these reactions take place by an intramolecular reaction by the coiling of a long chain. Intramolecular chain transfer normally results in short branches ... 

---