New developments in hyperbranched polymers

In the last 12 years the field of hyperbranched polymers has been well esta blished with a large variety of synthetic approaches and fundamental studie s on structure and properties of these unique materials. However, new devel opments involving hyperbranched materials appeared recently, for example, d ifferent synthetic strategies, new reaction mechanisms, formation of more c omplex architectures, a deeper understanding of the branched structure and their kinetic development, and intensive studies on the material properties and possible applications. This demonstrates the high versatility and the possibilities that are still involved in hyperbranched polymers and render it one of the most active fields in polymer science with a very promising f uture. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.