In order to achieve the desired levels of purity for controlled anionic polymerization, all monomers, reactants, and solvents should be purified, dried, and degassed, preferably on the vacuum line. Solvents are distilled directly into the requisite glass reactors followed by flame sealing from the vacuum line. Ampules contain monomers or functionalizing agents or terminating agent such as degassed methanol. Empty Ampules equipped with a degassed methanol tube are used to remove a base sample of the living polymer for molecular characterization.