Synthesis of chain end functionalized linear and branched polymers by radical polymerisation in the presence of a silyl enol.

Polymerisations of methyl methacrylate, styrene or N-isopropyl acrylamide in the presence of 1-phenyl(trimethylsiloxy)ethylene (1) generate telechelic oligomers with end groups derived from initiator fragments and termination by radical alkylation of 1. Inclusion of a difunctional monomer produces highly branched polymers that are free from gel.