| Abstract: | Hyperbranched polymethacrylates were prepared by means of oxyanionic vinyl polymerization of commercially available monomers, including hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEG‐MA). Hyperbranched polymethacrylates with high molecular weight were obtained with the complex of potassium hydride and 18‐crown‐6 as the initiator. The effect of 18‐crown‐6 is very important, and only oligomer can be obtained in the polymerization without 18‐crown‐6. The molecular structure of the hyperbranched polymers was confirmed with 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. The ratio of initiator to monomer significantly affects the architecture of the resultant polymers. When the ratio of initiator to monomer equals 1 in the oxyanionic vinyl polymerization of HEMA, the degree of branching of the resulting polymer was calculated to be around 0.49. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3502–3509, 2005 |
