Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymer with Degree of Branching of Approximately 100% by Polycondensation of 2-(4-Phenoxyphenoxy)fluorenone

An approximately 100% branched hyperbranched polymer was successfully prepared using 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)fluorenone as a monomer in an acidic medium. The kinetics of the model reaction between 9-fluorenone and anisole was investigated. The reaction obeyed the second-order kinetics, indicating that the first reaction, i.e., the formation of the intermediate from 9-fluorenone and anisole, is considerably slower than the second one, i.e., the reaction of the intermediate with anisole. Based on this finding, a new monomer expected to produce a 100% branched hyperbranched polymer, 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)fluorenone, was designed and prepared. The polymer thus obtained was characterized by FT/IR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed that the polymer was an almost 100% branched hyperbranched polymer. [doi:10.1295/polymj.PJ2007090]