Star poly(ethylene oxide)s from carbosilane dendrimers

A series of 4-arm, 8-arm, and 16-arm poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEO) have been synthesized from hydroxy functionalized carbosilane dendrimers of generation zero, one, and two, respectively. The PEO arms are grown anionically from the multifunctional cores. The polymers have narrow molecular weight distributions. Analysis of the molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, and translational diffusion coefficient in methanol confirms the star structure of the polymers. The aqueous solutions of the star PEOs appear normal. Low molecular weight star polymers, however, show abnormally low intrinsic viscosities and are adsorbed on the size exclusion column hydrogel material.