Aqueous RAFT/MADIX polymerisation of vinylphosphonic acid

RAFT/MADIX polymerisation of vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) was controlled in water with an O-ethyl xanthate transfer agent. This represents the first example of reversible deactivation radical polymerisation of a monomer bearing an unprotected phosphonic acid function. Hence, macromolecular engineering of polyphosphonates can now be envisioned by directly polymerising VPA in water.