N-heterocyclic carbenes as organocatalysts for polymerizations: Trends and frontiers

This review spotlights current areas of high interest for NHC-based polymerization research. A compact overview about the underlying mechanistic aspects is given, while the main focus is put on more recent developments and emerging new approaches in NHC-mediated polymerization chemistry. Contemporary frontiers in research, such as the preparation of macrocyclic polymers, the polymerization of activated olefins and new types of NHC delivery are discussed and put into perspective. Finally, an outlook is given on where future industrial applications might arise.