The invention relates to a method for preparing a vinyl ether polymer by photo-initiated polymerization, which comprises the step of: under a protective atmosphere, performing photo-initiated polymerization on a vinyl ether monomer in the presence of an organic halogenated hydrocarbon and manganese carbonyl under irradiation of light having a wavelength of 365-550 nm at −25° C. to 25° C., to obtain a vinyl ether polymer after the reaction is completed. In the method, a vinyl ether monomer is subjected to cationic polymerization in the presence of manganese carbonyl and an organic halogenated hydrocarbon under visible light, to prepare a vinyl ether polymer with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution.

A method of polymerizing a first, and a second class of monomers to form product polymer. The first class of monomers polymerize via a radical pathway in the presence of light, and the second class of monomers polymerize via an insertion pathway in the absence of light.

Disclosed herein are isotactic polyvinyl ethers and improved methods of making same. The method disclosed herein can produce polyvinyl ethers having a higher isotacticity as compared to polyvinyl ethers prepared with conventional methods.

Disclosed herein are isotactic polyvinyl ethers and improved methods of making same. The method disclosed herein can produce polyvinyl ethers having a higher isotacticity as compared to polyvinyl ethers prepared with conventional methods.

A method of producing a homopolymer or random copolymer of hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether by polymerizing a monomer component comprising at least one hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether using an oil-soluble radical polymerization initiator in the absence or presence of a solvent.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a vinyl ether polymer by photo-initiated polymerization, which comprises the step of: under a protective atmosphere, performing photo-initiated polymerization on a vinyl ether monomer in the presence of an organic halogenated hydrocarbon and manganese carbonyl under irradiation of light having a wavelength of 365-550 nm at −25° C. to 25° C., to obtain a vinyl ether polymer after the reaction is completed. In the method, a vinyl ether monomer is subjected to cationic polymerization in the presence of manganese carbonyl and an organic halogenated hydrocarbon under visible light, to prepare a vinyl ether polymer with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution.

A Brønsted-Lowry acid initiator system for cationic polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer involves an initiator having a structure of Formula (I) in an anhydrous polymerization medium: ##STR00001## where: M is tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V) or niobium (Nb); R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl or aryl, or two or more of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 on a same benzene ring are taken together to form a bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic moiety with the benzene ring, with the proviso that all of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 on the same benzene ring are not H; L is absent or a molecule that coordinates to H.sup.+; and, x is 0 when L is absent, or x is 0.5 or more when L is present.

A Brønsted-Lowry acid initiator system for cationic polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer involves an initiator having a structure of Formula (I) in an anhydrous polymerization medium: ##STR00001## where: M is tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V) or niobium (Nb); R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl or aryl, or two or more of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 on a same benzene ring are taken together to form a bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic moiety with the benzene ring, with the proviso that all of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 on the same benzene ring are not H; L is absent or a molecule that coordinates to H.sup.+; and, x is 0 when L is absent, or x is 0.5 or more when L is present.

Disclosed herein are isotactic polyvinyl ethers and improved methods of making same. The method disclosed herein can produce polyvinyl ethers having a higher isotacticity as compared to polyvinyl ethers prepared with conventional methods.

A Brønsted-Lowry acid initiator system for cationic polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer involves an initiator having a structure of Formula (I) in an anhydrous polymerization medium:

##STR00001## where: M is tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V) or niobium (Ni); R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl or aryl, or two or more of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 on a same benzene ring are taken together to form a bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic moiety with the benzene ring, with the proviso that all of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 on the same benzene ring are not H; L is absent or a molecule that coordinates to H.sup.+; and, x is 0 when L is absent, or x is 0.5 or more when L is present.