Abstract
Anionic polymerization is a powerful tool for the synthesis of a variety
of model materials with well-defined molecular characteristics. However
specially designed apparatuses and appropriate high vacuum techniques
are needed in order to exclude from the reaction environment all
reactive contaminants with the anionic centers. This review describes
the basic principles of anionic polymerization as well as detailed
experimental methods for the purification of the reagents usually used
for the synthesis of model polymeric materials. In addition a few
examples of the synthesis of polymers with complex architecture are
given. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.