Initialisation in RAFT-mediated polymerisation of methyl acrylate.

Inhibition in Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerisations is currently a controversial issue; here we provide evidence that the slow "propagation" of the initiating and leaving group radicals during the early part (the period of consumption of the initial RAFT agent) of methyl acrylate RAFT-mediated polymerisation has characteristics similar to inhibition.