chain transfer

The abstraction, by the radical end of a growing chain-polymer, of an atom from another molecule. The growth of the polymer chain is thereby terminated but a new radical, capable of chain propagation and polymerization, is simultaneously created. For the example of alkene polymerization cited for a chain reaction, the reaction: represents a chain transfer, the radical Cl₃C^. inducing further polymerization: The phenomenon occurs also in other chain reactions such as cationic polymerization.