Controlled/living radical polymerization in aqueous media: homogeneous and heterogeneous systems

Controlled/living radical polymerizations carried out in the presence of water have been examined. These aqueous systems include both the homogeneous solutions and the various heterogeneous media, namely dispersion, suspension, emulsion and miniemulsion. Among them, the most common methods allowing control of the radical polymerization, such as nitroxide-mediated polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization and reversible transfer, are presented in detail. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.