In late 2013 we began exploring alkyl boron compounds (e.g., Et­₃B) as coinitiators for the aqueous cationic polymerization of olefins.  We found that these Lewis acids in conjunction with a variety of initiators (e.g., carbocation synthons, Brønsted acids) produced small yields of low MW polystyrene in aqueous suspension at room temperature.  In certain instances very high MW polymers were formed that indicated that free radical polymerization had also taken place.  These reactions have not been studied in detail and it is believed that other initiators such as iodine might also induce similar polymerizations in combination with these water resistant Lewis acids.  Most likely, alkyl substituted indium compounds that are also resistant to hydrolysis (e.g., PhCH₂CH₂InCl₂) will be capable of inducing similar polymerizations.  Aqueous cationic ring opening polymerizations of a variety of heterocycles (e.g., cyclic siloxanes) will most likely be feasible using similar initiator systems but have not been studied to date.  We hope to resume work on these novel polymerization systems in the future.