Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymers

Synonyms

Branched polymers; Synthesis of dendritic polymers

Definition

Hyperbranched polymers are macromolecules that are densely branched (but typically not as densely as dendrimers) and that are typically obtained in one synthetic step (like linear polymers and in contrast to dendrimers).

Introduction

Hyperbranched polymers are a relatively new class of densely branched macromolecules [1]. They differ from linear polymers a.o. in their low viscosity and high end group density in which they resemble dendrons and dendrimers. An example of a hyperbranched polymer and a dendron derived from an AB₂ monomer, which is among the simplest monomers from which branched polymers can be obtained, is given in Fig. 1. A dendrimer is a conjugate of several dendrons attached to a central core. In contrast to dendrimers, which are even more densely branched, monodisperse, and perfectly symmetric structures, the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers does not rely on a multistep sequence but usually...