A process for the preparation of a thermoplastic resin, or thermoplastic resins comprising: forming, or providing a miniemulsion comprised of a mixture of an oligomeric compound of the formula R—SFR, wherein R is an oligomeric compound comprised of from about 1 to about 30 monomer units and optionally a covalently bonded free radical initiator compound, —SFR is a covalently bound stable free radical end group, and at least one free radical polymerizable monomer compound, and a surfactant; and heating the miniemulsion wherein there results a latex thermoplastic resin or a latex of thermoplastic resins with a high monomer to polymer conversion of about 85 to about 100 percent and a narrow polydispersity of from about 1.1 to about 2.0.