An inimer, and process for making same, having the following formula: wherein X=halogen, nitroxide, thioester; R═H or CH3; and R′=aliphatic, non-aliphatic, linear or branched, mesogenic, non mesogenic, chiral, achiral, hydrocarbon, non-hydrocarbon, selected from fluorocarbon, oligo(oxyethylene) and siloxane substituents, alkyl, aryl, mesogenic group, non-mesogenic group, aliphatic, non-aliphatic, siloxane, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, or other fluorocarbon group, and polymers, and the process of making them, from the inimer.