The strength of the macromonomer strategy for complex macromolecular architecture: Molecular characterization, properties and applications of polymacromonomers

The efficiency of the macromonomer (MM) synthetic strategy for the creation of nonlinear complex macromolecular architectures (miktoarm stars, alpha,omega-branched polymers, random/exact comb and graft copolymers, dendritic polymers, molecular brushes) is reviewed. In addition, the solution/bulk properties and the potential applications of polymacromonomers (PMM), as well as new synthetic ideas are presented. The synthesis of macromonomers and living polymacromonomers in situ leads to many novel linear and nonlinear structures, as for example PMM-b-PS-b-PMM, (PS)(2)PMM. The use of multichlorosilylstyrenes as <LF>monomer/linking agents opens new ways for structures with multichain macromonomeric building blocks.