Anionic Polymerization Vinyl monomers with electron-withdrawing substituents (EWG)can be polymerized by anionic catalysts Chain-carrying step is nucleophilic addition of an anion to the unsaturated monomer by a Michael reaction EWG EWG EWG EWGEWG EWG Nu:- Nu-CH2-CH:- H2C=CH NuCH2CH-CH2CH:- Repeat CH2-CH where EWG an electron-withdrawing group ▪ Vinyl monomers with electron-withdrawing substituents (EWG) can be polymerized by anionic catalysts ▪ Chain-carrying step is nucleophilic addition of an anion to the unsaturated monomer by a Michael reaction Anionic Polymerization