title: Controlling the growth of polymer trees: concepts and perspectives for hyperbranched polymers.
abstract: This article summarizes basic principles and recent progress in the field of cascade-branched polymers. Methods for the preparation of macromolecules with hyperbranched structures are presented and compared concerning the extent of control over molecular weights and polydispersity. Step-growth and recently developed chain-growth strategies as well as enzyme and transition metal catalyzed polymerizations are discussed with respect to mechanism and future potential.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Makromolekulare Chemie, Hermann-Staudinger-Haus und Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sunder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011090:Polyenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D011090:Polyenes; D011108:Polymers; D011134:Polysaccharides; C035051:PL 732