Results on aqueous heterophase polymerization in the presence of either 1,1-diphenylethylene or water-soluble precursor polymers containing an alpha,p-dimer unit of 1, 1-diphenylethylene are reported. The precursor polymers are bound covalently to the particles due to a special kind of chain transfer reaction showing on the one hand some features of controlled radical polymerization and leading on the other hand to the formation of block copolymers. Moreover, the covalently bound precursor molecules act as very efficient colloidal stabilizers of the final dispersion and thus, they can be considered as reactive surfactant with the additional ability to control radical polymerization (controlsurf). Under optimum conditions the precursor polymer molecules are almost completely covalently attached to polymer particles. Results are presented regarding block copolymer yields, solids content, and particle diameter in dependence on the polymerization conditions, particularly the precursor polymer concentration, the monomer as well as the initiator concentration, and the initiator type. Under optimum conditions the attainable block copolymer yields and the solids content of the final latexes can be above 95 and about 40%, respectively. Based on experimental results the mechanism of this special kind of controlled radical polymerization under the peculiarities of aqueous heterophase polymerization is discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.