Multi-mode polymerizations involving photoinduced radical polymerization

Multi-mode polymerizations provide a facile route to synthesis of block and graft copolymers that cannot be made by a single polymerization mode. In such strategy, photoinduced free radical polymerization as one of the polymerization mode play a crucial role due to its simplicity, wavelength flexibility, applicability to wide range of monomers and minimized side reactions. In this article, various combinations of photoinduced conventional and controlled/living radical polymerizations with other polymerization methods, namely cationic, free radical promoted cationic, ring opening, and ring opening metathesis polymerizations are presented and mechanistic details are evaluated. Moreover, the possibilities for the simultaneous or sequential processes are discussed.