Recent Progress on Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymers with Controlled Molecular Weight Distribution

Hyperbranched polymers that are traditionally synthesized in a one-pot solution polymerization suffer from a poorly defined structure with broad molecular weight distribution. This paper summarizes the recent progress on one-pot synthesis of uniform hyperbranched polymers in three strategies: 1) slow addition of monomer into multifunctional core; 2) use of core molecule with higher reactivity than monomer; and 3) polymerization in confined space. A comprehensive list of literature reports using each approach is discussed in great detail, addressing both advantages and limitations. This knowledge is critical for developing new methods that can combine the advantageous features of different methods and readily produce hyperbranched polymers with low polydispersity, tunable molecular weights (103 – 106 g/mol) and high degrees of branching.