End-Functionalized Chains via Anionic Polymerization: Can the Problems with Using Diphenylethylene Derivatives be Solved by using Bisphenol F?

Quo Vadis Carbanionic Polymerization?

Living anionic polymerization will soon celebrate 70 years of existence. This living polymerization is considered the mother of all living and controlled/living polymerizations since it paved the way for their discovery. It provides methodologies for synthesizing polymers with absolute control of the essential parameters that affect polymer properties, including molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, composition and microstructure, chain-end/in-chain functionality, and architecture. This precise control of living anionic polymerization generated tremendous fundamental and industrial research activities, developing numerous important commodity and specialty polymers. In this Perspective, we present the high importance of living anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers by providing some examples of its significant achievements, presenting its current status, giving several insights into where it is going (Quo Vadis) and what the future holds for this powerful synthetic method. Furthermore, we attempt to explore its advantages and disadvantages compared to controlled/living radical polymerizations, the main competitors of living carbanionic polymerization.

Temperature Gradient Interaction Chromatography: A Perspective

The application of temperature gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) as an advanced technique for the characterisation of polymers is discussed, in comparison to other liquid chromatography techniques and in particular the ubiquitous size exclusion chromatography. Specifically, the use of reversed-phase TGIC for the interrogation of complex branched polymers and normal-phase TGIC for characterisation of high-molar mass end-functionalised polymers is highlighted.