An investigation of the initiation mechanism in the free radical copolymerisation of acrylonitrile and vinyl acetate using the aminoxyl radical trapping technique, employing 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethyl-2,3-dihydro- 1 Hisoindol-2-yloxyl is reported. Based upon the experimental results, the mechanism of initiation is suggested as proceeding via the 'free monomer' mechanism. Additionally, the effect of Lewis acids on the initiation mechanism is reported. A study of the addition of phosphorus-centred radicals to alkenes and phenylacetylene, utilising the aminoxyl radical trapping technique is reported. The results indicate a decreased rate of addition by both diphenylphosphinyl and dimethoxyphosphinyl radicals to cyclic versus acyclic alkenes. In contrast to cyclic alkenes, both these phosphorus-centred radicals add readily to the triple bond of phenylacetylene. The stereochemistry of the addition of diphenyiphosphinyl and dimethoxyphosphinyl radicals and of the aminoxyl trap is discussed. The stereochemistry of the addition of benzoyloxyl radicals to a conformationally rigid alkene, trans-a2-octalin is reported. Attempts to examine the initiation mechanism in the free radical copolymerisation of styrene/maleic anhydride and of styrene/tetracyanoethylene utilising the aminoxyl radical trapping technique are described. Also described are attempts to synthesise some new phosphorus radical initiators.