Anionic polymerization of methacrylic monomers: characterization of the propagating species

Ligation of the anionic species responsible for the polymerization (LAP) of alkyl(meth)acrylates has much contributed to improve polymerization control. This ligated anionic polymerization has been firstly studied by using model compounds, such as low molecular weight lithium ester enolates. Recently, effort has been devoted to the direct analysis of the species that propagate the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates. In addition to IR, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy has been very instrumental in the elucidation of the structure and aggregation of the active species and how these characteristic features are modified by the addition of various types of ligands. This substantial progress in the characterization of the polyalkyl(meth)acrylate anions, ligated or not, is reported in this review