The special of Chemical Review informs about studies conducted on single-electron transfer and single-electron transfer degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization. Researchers have demonstrated that living radical polymerization (LRP) can be significantly effective for the synthesis of tailored polymers. The special issue aims at covering the latest progress in two related polymerization methodologies that rely on single-electron transfer (SET), single-electron transfer degenerative chain transfer living radical polymerization (SET-DTLRP), and single-electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP). It is demonstrated that SET-DTLRP proceeds through SET initiation and competition of SET activation, deactivation, and degenerative transfer (DT). SET-LRP proceeds exclusively through a SET initiation, activation, and deactivation. It is also revealed that the two techniques have arose from investigations into Cu-catalyzed LRP initiated with sulfonyl halides.

Single-Electron Transfer and Single-Electron Transfer Degenerative Chain Transfer Living Radical Polymerization

Synthesis and properties of polyaryletherketones

A radical outlook: Recently published "organocatalytic C-H activation reactions" have now been interpreted as base-promoted homolytic substitutions. The addition of an aryl radical to an arene followed by deprotonation (see above) and electron transfer form part of the chain reaction. Although these new results are not conceptual breakthroughs, they could be experimental breakthroughs because they presage new transformations in radical (anion) chemistry. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Joseph Bunnett

Papers

Base-catalyzed halogen dance, and other reactions of aryl halides

Radical-chain, electron-transfer dehalogenation reactions

Editorial - On Obsolescent Excellence

Editorial - The Great Carbocation Problem

Editorial - Reviewing of Manuscripts