| NMP |
Suitable for surfactant-free nanoscaffold formation in aqueous dispersion. Reversible termination mechanism between the growing-propagating radicals and the nitroxide, which acts as a control agent. Well-defined structures of the polymeric backbone with the opportunity to add functional moieties before NG formation.
|
[54,55,56] |
| ATRP |
Fast dynamic equilibrium between radicals and dormant alkyl halides. Catalytic process to activate the dormant alkyl halide, generating a complex with higher oxidation state and a macro-radical ‘living’ polymer. The latter can propagate or is deactivated back to ‘dormant’ polymer, preventing bimolecular termination. Variations vs the traditional use of metal catalysts: activation by electron transfer (ARGET-ATRP), electrochemically mediated transfer (eATRP), zerovalent metals in supplemental activators and reducing agents (SARA-ATRP), initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR-ATRP), photochemical reduction (photoATRP), and metal-free ATRP.
|
[42,57,58,59,60] |
| RAFT |
Metal-free polymerization chemistry. Use of fast reversible transfer of chain transfer agents (CTA, typically a thio-carbonyl-thio group) to control the propagation of radicals and the formation of dormant species. It ensures a prolonged lifetime of growing chains. Minimal to null undesirable background polymerization.
|
[61,62,63,64,65] |
| RITP |
Reversible deactivation of radicals mediated by iodine. Synthesis of well-defined polymers with programmable compositions and architectures, narrow molecular weight distributions. Simple reaction system, various types of monomers, mild reaction conditions and tolerance to the reactant purity.
|
[66,67] |
| MADIX |
The use of the xanthate promotes the design of NGs with high-density of crosslinking points and polymer chains without formation of macrostructures. Possibility of generating core-shell star nanosystems by chain extension from branched polymeric precursors. It can be applied in combination with RAFT.
|
[53,68,69] |
