New initiating systems for living cationic polymerization. Design and mechanism

This paper concerns the recent progress in our search for new initiating systems for living cationic polymerization and the mechanisms involved therein, specifically focusing on: (a) Protonic acid/Lewis acid initiating systems for vinyl ethers; (b) Initiating systems for living cationic polymerization of styrene; (c) Multi-functional initiating systems. In area (a), the design of counteranions was discussed relative to the principles of living cationic polymerization; in area (b), the first truly living cationic polymerization of styrene is described; and in area (c), the multi-functional initiating systems led to tri-armed polymers of vinyl ethers and p-alkoxystyrenes with amphiphilic arm chains of uniform lengths.