Organoboranes-atmospheric oxygen systems as unconventional initiators of radical polymerization

This paper provides the first generalization and analysis of our results and published data about a new type of pseudoliving process: radical polymerization mediated by boroxyl radicals generated through the oxidation of organoboranes by atmospheric oxygen. The kinetics and mechanism of polymerization of methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate in the presence of ammonia-organoboranes and boracyclanes are studied. Methods of practical use of polymerization initiated by organoborane-oxygen systems for macromolecular design are discussed.