Abstract: A polymerization method carried out in the presence of unsaturated organic peroxide chain transfer agents is disclosed. Also disclosed are (co)polymers and oligomers made by this process and articles of manufacture comprising one or more (co)polymers or oligomers made by this process. Furthermore, the use of these unsaturated organic peroxides as chain transfer agents is disclosed. The present process reduces the severe retardation of polymerization observed for unsaturated organic peroxide chain transfer agents of the prior art and, in some cases, even improves the monomer conversion in comparison to the control.

Abstract: Novel unsaturated peroxyketals useful as molecular weight regulators in polymerization reactions are disclosed. Also disclosed are a polymerization process employing these novel unsaturated peroxyketals as molecular weight regulators, polymers and oligomers made by this process and articles of manufacture comprising one or more polymers or oligomers made by this process. These molecular weight regulating peroxyketals provide the ability to introduce an epoxy functionality to the oligomer or polymer as well as an additional functionality, in a manner which gives a higher monomer conversion and less by-products than with comparable chain transfer regulators.