Terminology for reversible-deactivation radical polymerization previously called controlled radical or living radical polymerization (IUPAC Recommendations 2010)

This document defines terms related to modern methods of radical polymerization, in which certain additives react reversibly with the radicals, thus enabling the reactions to take on much of the character of living polymerizations, even though some termination inevitably takes place. In recent technical literature, these reactions have often been loosely referred to as, inter alia, controlled, controlled/living, or living polymerizations. The use of these terms is discouraged. The use of controlled is permitted as long as the type of control is defined at its first occurrence, but the full name that is recommended for these polymerizations is reversible-deactivation radical polymerization.