In situ FT-IR spectroscopic investigation on the microstructure of hyperbranched aliphatic polyesters

The synthetic process of hyperbranched aliphatic polyesters based on 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (AB(2)-type monomer) and 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (B-3-type core) was investigated with in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis. The experimental parameter was the stoichiometric ratio between monomer and core moiety corresponding to theoretical first, second and third generation. In the theoretical first generation, monomers were directly combined with a core molecule. In the theoretical second and third generation, oligomers derived from the reaction between monomers were gradually combined with a core moiety as the reaction time increased. The microstructure of the main product was surmised from the peak integration of in situ FT-IR spectra, the intensity of each repeating unit on C-13 NMR spectra and the number average molecular weight. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.