Polymerisation ofN-Vinylpyrroles

Data on the polymerisation of N-vinylpyrroles, which have become readily available in recent years as a result of the discovery of their direct synthesis from ketoximes and acetylenes, are described systematically and surveyed. The characteristic features of their radical polymerisation and copolymerisation as well as their copolymerisation with electron-accepting monomers are examined and the mechanism and the unusual nature of the cationic polymerisation processes are discussed. Attention is concentrated on new examples of the class of N-vinylpyrroles, their reactivity, and the structure of the polymers. The bibliography includes 104 references.