Use in block copolymer synthesis

Recently, we have found that acrylamide derivatives such as N-methylacrylamide-(NMAAm) and N-methylmethacrylamide (NMMAm) were polymerized by radical initiators in adequate solvents to form polymer microspheres, which contained the very stable propagating radicals of the amide monomers in high concentrations. Furthermore, the living polymer radicals were found to react readily with other vinyl monomers at room temperature, yielding block copolymers. We have also investigated these reactions by means of ESR. This article reviews our recent work on the formation of living propagating radicals, their reactions with vinyl monomers, and their use in block copolymer synthesis. 

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