Rational Synthesis of Hyperbranched Poly(ester)s

Hyperbranched poly(ester)s have a variety of unique properties as a result of their abundance of end groups which make them useful in a range of applications. The synthesis of hyperbranched polymers has generally been carried out using empirically derived procedures to avoid gelation. However, such synthetic strategies lead to materials with unpredictable molecular weight and properties. It has now been demonstrated that modeling may be utilized to direct the synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ester)s from a variety of monomers to form well-defined structures and terminal-group functionality while avoiding gelation. In particular, Macosko–Miller modeling permits the synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ester)s of specific molecular weights and end-group functionality even for multifunctional monomers for which functional groups are not equally reactive.