This invention concerns a free radical polymerization process, selected
chain transfer agents employed in the process and polymers made thereby,
in which the process comprises preparing polymer of general Formula (A)
and Formula (B) comprising contacting: (i) a monomer selected from the
group consisting of vinyl monomers (of structure CH.sub.2.dbd.CUV),
maleic anhydride, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate and
cyclopolymerizable monomers; (ii) a thiocarbonylthio compound selected
from Formula (C) and Formula (D) having a chain transfer constant greater
than about 0.1; and (iii) free radicals produced from a free radical
source; the polymer of Formula (A) being made by contacting (i), (ii) C
and (iii) and that of Formula (B) by contacting (i), (ii) D, and (iii);
and (iv) controlling the polydispersity of the polymer being formed by
varying the ratio of the number of molecules of (ii) to the number of
molecules of (iii); wherein Q, R, U, V, Z, Z', m, p and q are as defined
in the text ##STR00001##