Terminology for Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization Previously Called "Controlled" Radical or "Living" Radical Polymerization (IUPAC Terminology 2010)

This document defines terms related to modern methods of radical polymerization, in which certain additives react reversibly with the radicals, thus enabling the reactions to take on much of the character of living polymerizations, even though some termination inevitably takes place. In re-cent technical literature, these reactions have often been loosely referred to as, inter alia, "controlled", "controlled/living", or "living" polymerizations. The use of these terms is discouraged. The use of "controlled" is permitted as long as the type of control is defined at its first occurrence, but the full name that is recommended for these polymerizations is “reversible-deactivation radical polymerization". KUI -11/2012Received April 26, 2011Accepted February 3, 2012