Controlling the growth of polymer trees: Concepts and perspectives for hyperbranched polymers

This article summarizes basic principles and recent progress in the field o f cascade-branched polymers. Methods for the preparation of macromolecules with hyperbranched structures are presented and compared concerning the ext ent of control over molecular weights and polydispersity. Step-growth and r ecently developed chain-growth strategies as well as enzyme and transition metal catalyzed polymerizations are discussed with respect to mechanism and future potential.