Recent progress in organocatalytic group transfer polymerization

Abstract

Group transfer polymerization (GTP) has been a minor research topic since the emergence of controlled/living radical polymerization methods in the mid-1990s, even though it is counted as one of the living polymerization methods. However, the performance of GTP has much improved in many aspects, such as catalytic activity, polymerizable monomers, molecular weight control, and polymer structures that can be synthesized, through the introduction of newly developed Lewis base/acid organocatalysts and novel initiators since 2007–2008. In this review article, recent progress in GTP brought about by organocatalysts is described.