6.05 - Hyperbranched Polymers: Synthetic Methodology, Properties, and Complex Polymer Architectures

Abstract

Life is branched! Statistically branched (=hyperbranched) polymers have become an important class of materials in modern chemistry. Not only due to straightforward synthetic approaches which were developed in the last decade but also due to the vast amount of available monomers, hyperbranched polymers have replaced perfect dendrimers in many areas and they will have an even higher impact in future. This chapter highlights classic and modern syntheses of hyperbranched polymers and their unique properties and presents their versatility in the macromolecular toolbox for the design of complex nonlinear architectures.