A process is described for producing homo-, co- and block copolymers by
controlled radical polymerization in aqueous solution, wherein a monomer
component (A) consisting of at least one radically polymerizable monomer,
an initiator component (B) consisting of at least one radical initiator,
a polysaccharide component (C) consisting of at least one cyclic
polysaccharide (derivative) and a regulator component (D) consisting of
at least one compound of the general formula (Ia) or/and (Ib) are reacted
in the presence of water, ##STR00001## in which R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 can
each independently denote hydrogen, an optionally substituted C.sub.1
C.sub.20 alkyl residue, C.sub.3 C.sub.8 cycloalkyl residue, C.sub.7
C.sub.34 aralkyl residue or optionally an aromatic C.sub.6 C.sub.14
hydrocarbon residue and R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 can additionally denote
polymer residues having an average molecular mass (number average) of 100
to 50,000 Daltons, and at least two but at most four of the residues
R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 represent an aromatic hydrocarbon residue. In this
manner it is possible to produce polymers with a very narrow molecular
weight distribution. Moreover, due to the much lower amounts of initiator
and regulator compared to the prior art, the polymers contain only very
small amounts of regulator and initiator decomposition products.