Hyperbranched macromolecules via olefin metathesis

Abstract

A facile route to hyperbranched polymers via acyclic diene metathesis is reported. Any molecule functionalized with two or more acrylate groups and one terminal olefin can serve as an ABn monomer when exposed to animidazolinylidene-based ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst, due to the cross metathesis selectivity of this catalyst. For the polymers obtained by this method, both 1H NMR spectroscopy and triple detector size exclusion chromatography conclusively indicate a branched architecture. Copyright © 2007 American Chemical Society.