Abstract: A method of preparing polymer, the method comprising polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers of formula (I) where U is selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl or halogen; V is halogen or of the form O-G where G is selected from —C(O)R1 and —R1, or V is of the form NGGa where G is as defined above and Ga is selected from H and R1, G and Ga form together with N a heterocyclic ring, or V is of the form CH2Gb where Gb is selected from H, R1, OH, OR1, NR12, PR12, P(O)R12, P(OR1)2, SR1, SOR1, and SO2R1; and where the or each R1 is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaryl, optionally substituted alkylheteroaryl, and an optionally substituted polymer chain, under the control of a RA

Abstract: The present invention relates to branched polymer comprising a support moiety and at least three block co-polymer chains covalently coupled to and extending from the moiety, wherein: (i) each of the at least three block co-polymer chains comprise (a) a cationic polymer block that is covalently coupled to a hydrophilic polymer block, or (b) a cationic polymer block that is covalently coupled to a hydrophobic polymer block, said hydrophobic polymer block being covalently coupled to a hydrophilic polymer block; and (ii) at least one of said covalent couplings associated with each of said block co-polymer chains is biodegradable.

Abstract: A method of preparing polymer, the method comprising polymerising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers of formula (I) where U is selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl or halogen; V is halogen or of the form O-G where G is selected from —C(O)R1 and —R1, or V is of the form NGGa where G is as defined above and Ga is selected from H and R1, G and Ga form together with N a heterocyclic ring, or V is of the form CH2Gb where Gb is selected from H, R1, OH, OR1, NR12, PR12, P(O)R12, P(OR1)2, SR1, SOR1, and SO2R1; and where the or each R1 is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaryl, optionally substituted alkylheteroaryl, and an optionally substituted polymer chain, under the control of a RA

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the cleavage of one or more starting polymers having thiocarbonylthio groups of the formula —S—(C?S)— into derived polymers having thiol end groups of the formula —SH. The process includes contacting the aforedescribed starting polymers, with a reagent having the formula Xa Yb, wherein Xa is a nucleophilic group and Yb is an extracting group that results in the starting polymer and a byproduct, which is then separated from the derived polymer by conventional separation processes. The derived polymer is free from any odor or color that is sometimes associated with the starting polymer and it can be used in making optical lenses, such as contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect a process for preparing a microgel by RAFT polymerizing in the presence of a RAFT chain transfer agent, one or more solvophobic monomers and one or more solvophilic monomers to form one or more block copolymers comprising one or more solvophobic blocks and one or more solvophilic blocks wherein the solvophobic block is insoluble in a dispersing medium and the solvophilic block is soluble in the dispersing medium. The block copolymer is dispersed in the dispersing medium to form micelles, which is then stabilized to form the microgel. The dispersing medium can be aqueous or lipophilic. The method of the present invention also permits one to encapsulate a wide variety of materials, such as pigments, dye molecules, and aluminum flakes used in metallized paints.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect a process for preparing a microgel by RAFT polymerizing in the presence of a RAFT chain transfer agent, one or more solvophobic monomers and one or more solvophilic monomers to form one or more block copolymers comprising one or more solvophobic blocks and one or more solvophilic blocks wherein the solvophobic block is insoluble in a dispersing medium and the solvophilic block is soluble in the dispersing medium. The block copolymer is dispersed in the dispersing medium to form micelles, which is then stabilized to form the microgel. The dispersing medium can be aqueous or lipophilic. The method of the present invention also permits one to encapsulate a wide variety of materials, such as pigments, dye molecules, and aluminum flakes used in metallized paints.