This research deals with an investigation of a relatively new method of polymerization, discovered a few years ago in Japan. The propagating species in the polymerization is a so-called zwitterion, i.e., a molecule having both an electrically negative and a positive charge. The polymerization has considerable potential for the preparation of entirely new types of polymers. A major limitation has been the low molecular mass that previous workers have obtained. This research aims to understand better the individual steps in the polymerization process to control them in such a way as to increase the mass, and hence utility, of the products. Efforts are underway to increase the size of the polymers and to study the kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization in some carefully chosen chemical systems. Attention will also be paid to the possible influence of the crystal structure and dimensions of zwitterions.
