Degradable and Recyclable Polymers by Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization

Reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) provides unprecedented control over polymer composition, size, functionality, and topology. Various materials, such as linear polymers, star polymers, branched polymers, graft polymers, polymer networks, and hybrid materials, have been prepared by RDRP. The ability to control polymer topology also enabled precision synthesis of well-defined polymer topologies with degradable functional groups located at specific locations along a polymer chain. This review outlines progress in the synthesis of degradable polymers designed by RDRP, organized by topology and synthetic route. Recent progress in the depolymerization of polymers using RDRP mechanisms is highlighted and critically discussed.