Use of Alcohol as Initiator for Reversible Chain Transfer Catalyzed Polymerization

A novel initiation system, using a hydroxyl group as an initiating moiety, was developed for reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerization (RTCP), a living radical polymerization. The hydroxyl (alcohol) group was reacted with an iodinating agent and a monomer (M), giving a dormant species RO–M–I (I = iodine). It was prepared in the polymerization medium (monomer) and used in the polymerization without the purification, leading to a one‐pot RTCP from a hydroxyl group (an alcohol). magnified image