Hyperbranched polymers with a degree of branching of 100%

4-Methoxy-4'-(3 " -N-maleimidopropoxy)benzaldazine has been prepared and us ed for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers by 'criss-cross' cycloadditi on. In this type of reaction two unsaturated groups, such as the maleic imi de groups, are added to the azine function. Hence, the azine behaves as a d ifunctional system, and therefore 4-Methoxy-4'-(3 " -N-mateimidopropoxy)ben zaldazine is an AB(2) monomer, with the maleic imide group being the A-func tion, and the azine group representing the B-2 part. The nature of this cyc loaddition reaction ensures the coupled reaction of the two B-functions of each monomer unit. Consequently, the resulting polymer consists exclusively of branched and terminal repeating units and therefore has a degree of bra nching of 100%.