Solid-supported synthesis of hyperbranched polymer with β,β-diethynylstyryl units

Two novel aromatic polyamide supports bearing aromatic bromine and i ine functionality have been synthesised and tested for the solid-supported polymerization of AB(2) type monomer 4-(5-hexynyloxy)-beta,beta -dibromostyrene via Pd-catalysed cross-coupling of vinyl halides and terminal acetylenes. It was found that the solid-supported polymerization leads to a decrease in molecular weight and increase in the degree of branching from 17000-18000 g mol(-1) to 8000-4000 g mol(-1) and from 30-35% to 50-65%, respectively, compared to solution polymerization. All other things being equal, the decrease in molecular weight of hyperbranched polymer on solid-supported polymerization is a function of the distance between adjacent active sites of the polymer support. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry