Radical decarboxylation: an emerging tool in polymer synthesis

The synthesis of complex and highly functionalised polymer materials requires polymer chemists to search for versatile and efficient new methods for chemical synthesis. Recent years have seen the rise of radical decarboxylation as a novel approach to the initiation, functionalisation, crosslinking and degradation of polymers, allowing access to exciting new materials. This review describes the fundamentals of radical decarboxylation and its use in organic synthesis, along with the increasing application of this approach in polymer synthesis.