Highly branched (starlike) polymers obtained by reacting oligoalcohols with dicyclic compounds. 1. Monomethoxy poly(ethylene oxide) and diepoxides

Oligomeric alcohols were converted into the alkoxide anions, and highly-branched polymers were prepared from the monomethoxy poly(ethylene oxide) alkoxide anion and diepoxides. The kinetics of their formation were examined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The resulting reactive starlike macromolecules contains multialkoxide anion cores and can either be functionalized at this stage or initiate polymerization of another monomer. The method allows the preparation of branched polymers with homo- or heterobranches and with end groups that are prepared from the alkoxide anions.