One‐Pot Structure‐Controlled Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymers by a “Latent” Inimer Strategy Based on Diels–Alder Chemistry

Abstract

AbstractAn efficient “one‐pot” strategy for the structure‐controlled synthesis of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) based on a “latent” inimer (LI‐Br), containing a furan‐protected maleimide monomer and a haloalkane initiator, is presented. At high temperatures, the “latent” inimer is converted to a “real” inimer after releasing maleimide (MI) via a retro‐Diels–Alder (r‐DA) reaction and then copolymerized with methyl methacrylate by self‐condensing vinyl copolymerization. Due to the dynamic characteristic of the r‐DA reaction, the release of naked MI and the subsequent copolymerization can be regulated by the temperature or stereochemistry of Diels–Alder (DA) adducts. Thus, the “one‐pot” structure‐controlled synthesis of HBPs with various degrees of branching was achieved. By further implementation of a programmable temperature change, some valuable hyperbranched topologies such as star‐shaped and long‐chain hyperbranched polymers can be constructed avoiding sophisticated synthetic routes.