This review article systemtically summarizes the important advances in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

including various initiating systems

mechanism

kinetic investigation and the model polymers synthesized by this method. Simple organic halides are used as initiators. This new technique empolys redox process with transition metals in which a halogen atom is transferred reversibly between transition metal and polymer chain end. A low stationary concentration of growing radicals is in a fast dynamic equilibrium with the dormant species

so bimo lecular termination is minimized. There 're two types of ATRP. One is catalyzed by CuX

the other is catalyzed by RuCl

2

(PPh)

3

. Generally

ATRP is useful for synthesizing various polymers with molecular weights of 10

3

to 10

5

and low dispersites. This technique has been used to polymerize many kinds of vinylmonmers; to prepare random

gradient

alternating

block and graft copolymers; and to synthesize macromolecules with various topologies(branched

hyperbranched and star polymers).