living radical polymerization

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08914
Radical polymerization in which chain termination and irreversible chain transfer are absent.
Notes:
  1. Radical polymerizations, controlled radical polymerizations and reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations are not living radical polymerizations as there is a non-zero probability of chain termination.
  2. The term living radical polymerization can be used to refer to a hypothetical radical polymerization that occurs without chain termination.
  3. Use of the adjectives pseudo-living, quasi-living, 'living' (within quotation marks) or other terms that containing the word living to describe a radical polymerization with only some living characteristics is deprecated.
Example:
Certain polymerizations conducted in confined media which only allow reactions of individual propagating radicals.
See also: reversible-deactivation radical polymerization, controlled radical polymerization
Source:
PAC, 2022, 94, 1093. (Terminology for chain polymerization (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)) on page 1103 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'living radical polymerization' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08914 RIS BibTex EndNote
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