anionic polymerization: An ionic polymerization in which the kinetic-chain carriers are anions. [1]
In polymer chemistry, anionic addition polymerization is a form of chain-growth polymerization or addition polymerization that involves the polymerization of monomers initiated with anions. The type of reaction has many manifestations, but traditionally vinyl monomers are used.[2][3] Often anionic polymerization involves living polymerizations, which allows control of structure and composition.[2][3]