Synthesis and homopolymerization of methacrylic esters carrying dendritic polypyridines as side groups

Pyridine-based dendrons (up to the third generation) having an OH group at the local point react with CO and propyne in the presence of a palladium ca talyst to give the corresponding methacrylic esters in high yield. The new methacrylic monomers have been homopolymerized with a free radical initiato r. While the polymerization of [G1]- and [G-2]-methacrylic esters give high molecular weight polymers, the [G-3] methacrylic ester affords only oligom eric products.