2832 Macromolecules 2000, 33, 2832-2838

Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides Starting from

Dendrons as ABx Monomers: Effect of Monomer Multiplicity on the
Degree of Branching

Yuichi Ishida, Andrew C. F. Sun, Mitsutoshi Jikei, and Masa-aki Kakimoto*

Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku,
Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Received December 2, 1999; Revised Manuscript Received February 23, 2000

ABSTRACT: Three hyperbranched aromatic polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation
of 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid 2 (AB2 monomer), G1 dendron 4 (AB4 monomer), and G2 dendron 6 (AB8
monomer). The weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of the resulting polymers were 100 000-200 000
with a polydispersity (PDI) of ca. 3. The degrees of branching (DB) of the polymers from 2, 4, and 6 were
0.32, 0.72, and 0.84, respectively, as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Thermal polymerization of 2
and 4 was also carried out to form hyperbranched polyamides without solvents and catalysts. The resulting
polymers by the thermal polymerization had Mw’s of around 20 000 with a PDI of around 2. DB of the
hyperbranched polymers could be controlled within a range of 0.32-0.72 by the copolymerization of 2
and 4 in different molar ratios. DB had little influence on the Tg and solubility of the polymers.

Introduction
Dendritic macromolecules such as dendrimers and
hyperbranched polymers have received considerable
attention in recent years.1-5 These polymers have
unusual properties because of their unique molecular
architecture. In addition, these molecules contain many
terminal functional groups which can be modified with
different functional groups in order to control the
properties of the resulting polymers. Dendrimers, hav-
ing perfect branching, have controllable size and struc-
ture. However, the synthesis of dendrimers is quite
tedious because it requires multistep reactions with
many protection and deprotection steps as well as
purification at each generation. On the other hand,
hyperbranched polymers can be synthesized by a one-
step polymerization of ABn-type monomers. It has been
reported that hyperbranched polymers have properties
similar to those of dendrimers, such as high solubility
and low viscosity.6,7 Therefore, in terms of industrial Figure 1. Minimum DB of the hyperbranched polymer from
purposes, hyperbranched polymers are promising al- AB4 monomers.
ternatives to dendrimers because of their capability to polymers. One proposed method for the enhancement
be produced on a large scale by a one-step process. of DB is to use ABx-type dendrons, which contain
Recently, the synthesis of various hyperbranched poly- prefabricated dendritic units, as macromonomers.25 For
mers, such as aromatic and aliphatic polyesters,8-11 example, the polymerization of the AB4 dendron gives
polyphenylenes,12,13 polyethers,14 poly(ether ketones),15,16 a higher DB compared with that of the corresponding
polyamides,17-20 polysiloxanes,21 and poly(phenylene AB2 monomer because the AB4 dendron composed of
sulfides),22 has been reported. three AB2 units contains one dendritic and two terminal
Hyperbranched polymers prepared from ABn mono- units. If the propagation reaction of the AB4 monomer
mers have highly, but not perfectly, branched struc- gives all linear units at a certain degree of polymeriza-
tures. They are composed of terminal (T), linear (L), and tion (n), the total numbers of D, L, and T are equal to
dendritic (D) units, which are distinguished by the n, n - 1, and n + 1, respectively, as shown in Figure 1.
number of unreacted functional groups in the unit. The This implies that the minimum value of DB is 0.67 and
degree of branching (DB) is widely used as a parameter a hyperbranched polymer having a DB higher than 0.67
to indicate the architecture of hyperbranched poly- can be prepared when an AB4 monomer is used as a
mers.23 Frey reported that the one-pot polymerization starting monomer. Hawker and Chu have synthesized
of AB2-type monomers statistically gives a DB of 0.5 hyperbranched poly(ether ketone) with a DB of 0.71
when the reactivities of functional groups in each unit from an AB4 monomer.26
are identical.24 Most hyperbranched polymers from AB2 In this work, hyperbranched aromatic polyamides
monomers actually have a DB close to 0.5. Enhancement were prepared starting from ABx (x ) 2, 4, and 8)
and control of DB is one of the most interesting and monomers by direct polycondensation using a triphenyl
important aspects of the synthesis of hyperbranched phosphite (TPP)/pyridine system27 and a (2,3-dihydro-
10.1021/ma992021n CCC: $19.00 © 2000 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 03/31/2000
Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000 Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides 2833

2-thioxo-3-benzoxazolyl)phosphonic acid diphenyl ester 1451 cm-1 (aromatic). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 10.48 (s, CONH,
(DBOP) system28 to examine the effect of the monomer 2H), 10.06 (s, CONH, 4H), 8.55 (t, 1H), 8.38 (t, 2H), 8.13 (d,
structure on DB. It was found that they were also 2H), 7.94 (d, 4H), 6.36 (d, 8H), 6.02 (t, 4H), 5.13 (br, NH2). 13C
prepared by thermal polymerization without catalysts. NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 167.31, 167.16, 166.27, 149.13, 139.65,
139.62, 136.56, 135.71, 131.47, 116.49, 116.08, 115.52, 114.99,
In addition, the copolymerization of the AB2 and AB4
102.38. Anal. Calcd for C49H44N14O8: C, 61.50; H, 4.63; N,
monomers in different molar ratios was carried out in 20.49. Found: C, 60.67; H, 4.94; N, 19.70.
order to control the DB of the resulting polymer. Direct Polycondensation Using TPP/Pyridine. In a
three-necked flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer, a nitrogen
Experimental Section inlet, and a reflux condenser were placed 2 (1.52 g, 10 mmol),
NMP (10 mL), pyridine (2.5 mL), and TPP (2.6 mL, 10 mmol).
Materials. 3,5-Diaminobenzoic acid (2) was purified by
The solution was stirred at 100 °C for 3 h. The solution was
recrystallization from water. 3,5-Dinitrobenzoyl chloride (1)
then poured into methanol. The crude product was filtered and
obtained from Tokyo Kasei, tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol,
dissolved in DMAc. The solution was poured into methanol
and 10% palladium on activated carbon (Pd-C) were used as
containing 0.1% LiCl. The product was filtered and dried at
received. TPP and DBOP were obtained from Tokyo Kasei and
room temperature in vacuo. The yield was 97%. IR (KBr):
used as received. Triethylamine was purified by distillation
1655, 1549 (amide CdO), 1603, 1443 (aromatic). 1H NMR
over calcium hydride. N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-meth-
yl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and pyridine were purified by vacuum (DMSO-d6): δ 10.58, 10.29, 10.17, 10.07, 9.96, 9.93, 9.73, 9.70
distillation over calcium hydride. (m, CONH), 8.38, 7.97, 7.35, 7.26, 6.80, 6.35, 6.31, 5.99 (m,
aromatic), 5.15 (br, NH2). Anal. Calcd for (C7H6N2O)n: C, 62.68;
Preparation of 3. In a flask equipped with a magnetic H, 4.51; N, 20.88. Found: C, 60.90; H, 4.39; N, 19.04.
stirrer and a nitrogen inlet were placed 2 (6.09 g, 40 mmol) In the polymerization of the AB4 monomer were used 4
and DMAc (200 mL). The solution was cooled using a dry ice/ (0.841 g, 2.0 mmol), NMP (5 mL), pyridine (1.25 mL), and TPP
acetone bath. After the solution was frozen, 1 (20.3 g, 88 mmol) (0.53 mL, 2.0 mmol). The yield was 96%. IR (KBr): 1657, 1545
was added. The dry ice/acetone bath was then replaced with (amide CdO), 1601, 1445 cm-1 (aromatic). 1H NMR (DMSO-
an ice/water bath, and the solution was stirred for 15 h. The d6): δ 10.60, 10.38, 10.19, 10.12 (m, CONH), 8.36, 8.10, 7.99,
reaction mixture was then poured into dilute aqueous HCl. 7.95, 7.45, 7.33, 6.91, 6.46, 6.12 (m, aromatic), 4.54 (br, NH2).
The crude product was filtered, washed with hot methanol, Anal. Calcd for (C7H6N2O)n: C, 62.68; H, 4.51; N, 20.88.
and recrystallized from THF. The product was filtered and Found: C, 59.19; H, 4.65; N, 18.89.
dried at 80 °C in vacuo. The yield was 96%. IR (KBr): 1717 Direct Polycondensation Using DBOP. In a three-
(carboxyl CdO), 1688, 1543 (amide CdO), 1624, 1449 cm-1 necked flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a nitrogen
(aromatic). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 10.90 (s, CONH, 2H), 9.20 inlet were placed 4 (0.420 g, 1.0 mmol), NMP (2 mL),
(d, 4H), 9.00 (t, 2H), 8.68 (t, 1H), 8.16 (d, 2H). 13C NMR triethylamine (0.14 mL, 1.0 mmol), and DBOP (0.460 g, 1.2
(DMSO-d6): δ 166.51, 161.25, 148.18, 138.76, 137.30, 131.65, mmol). The solution was stirred at room temperature for 24
127.88, 120.90, 117.46, 116.42. h. The solution was then poured into methanol. The crude
Preparation of 4 (AB4 Monomer). In a flask equipped product was filtered and dissolved in DMAc. The solution was
with a magnetic stirrer and a hydrogen inlet were placed 3 poured into methanol containing 0.1% LiCl. The product was
(2.06 g, 4.0 mmol), THF (80 mL), ethanol (80 mL), and 10% filtered and dried at room temperature in vacuo. The yield was
Pd-C (0.851 g, 0.8 mmol/Pd). The flask was degassed and 97%. IR (KBr): 1647, 1539 (amide CdO), 1599, 1451 cm-1
purged with hydrogen several times and then stirred at room (aromatic). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 10.56, 10.31, 10.16, 10.10
temperature for 2 days. The mixture was filtered using Celite- (m, CONH), 8.36, 7.97, 7.93, 7.43, 7.31, 7.27, 6.89, 6.41, 6.08
545. The solution was concentrated using a rotary evaporator (m, aromatic), 5.30 (br, NH2). Anal. Calcd for (C7H6N2O)n: C,
and poured into n-hexane. The product was filtered and dried 62.68; H, 4.51; N, 20.88. Found: C, 61.62; H, 4.61; N, 18.88.
at 80 °C in vacuo. The yield was 95%. IR (KBr): 1708 (carboxyl In the polymerization of the AB8 monomer were used 6
CdO), 1655, 1547 (amide CdO), 1601, 1451 cm-1 (aromatic). (0.574 g, 0.6 mmol), NMP (3 mL), triethylamine (0.09 mL, 0.6
1H NMR (DMSO-d ): δ 10.03 (s, CONH, 2H), 8.41 (t, 1H), 8.04
6 mmol), and DBOP (0.276 g, 0.72 mmol). The yield was 94%.
(d, 2H), 6.35 (d, 4H), 6.02 (t, 2H), 5.47 (br, NH2). 13C NMR IR (KBr): 1647, 1543 (amide CdO), 1601, 1450 cm-1 (aro-
(DMSO-d6): δ 167.30, 167.29, 149.10, 139.74, 136.53, 131.26, matic). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 10.50, 10.33, 10.25, 10.08 (m,
116.30, 102.43. Anal. Calcd for C21H20N6O4: C, 59.99; H, 4.79; CONH), 8.47, 8.37, 8.02, 7.98, 7.46, 7.30, 7.25, 7.00, 6.90, 6.37,
N, 19.99. Found: C, 59.91; H, 5.14; N, 19.20. 6.02 (m, aromatic), 4.98 (br, NH2). Anal. Calcd for
Preparation of 5. In a flask equipped with a magnetic (C7H6N2O)n: C, 62.68; H, 4.51; N, 20.88. Found: C, 61.21; H,
stirrer and a nitrogen inlet were placed 4 (0.841 g, 2.0 mmol) 4.31; N, 19.05.
and DMAc (20 mL). The solution was cooled using a dry ice/ Thermal Polymerization. A flask containing 2 was flushed
acetone bath. After the solution was frozen, 1 (2.306 g, 10 with nitrogen three times. The flask was heated at 240 °C
mmol) was added. The dry ice/acetone bath was replaced with under a nitrogen flow for 30 min in a glass tube oven. After
an ice/water bath, and the solution was stirred for 15 h. The the temperature was lowered to room temperature, the product
solution was then poured into dilute aqueous HCl. The crude was dissolved in DMAc. The solution was poured into methanol
product was filtered and dissolved in DMAc. The solution was containing 0.1% LiCl. The product was filtered and dried at
poured into methanol. The product was filtered and dried at room temperature in vacuo. The yield was 87%. IR (KBr):
80 °C in vacuo. The yield was 95%. IR (KBr): 1713 (carboxyl 1650, 1536 (amide CdO), 1601, 1431 cm-1 (aromatic). 1H NMR
CdO), 1678, 1538 (amide CdO), 1605, 1451 cm-1 (aromatic). (DMSO-d6): δ 10.33, 10.09, 9.97, 9.87, 9.73, 9.53, 9.51 (m,
1H NMR (DMSO-d ): δ 11.09 (s, CONH, 4H), 10.59 (s, CONH,
6 CONH), 8.37, 7.98, 7.38, 7.23, 6.88, 6.85, 6.43, 6.38, 6.05 (m,
2H), 9.24 (d, 8H), 9.02 (t, 4H), 8.67 (t, 2H), 8.61 (t, 1H), 8.16 aromatic), 5.12 (br, NH2). Anal. Calcd for (C7H6N2O)n: C, 62.68;
(d, 2H), 8.13 (d, 4H). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 165.45, 161.51, H, 4.51; N, 20.88. Found: C, 61.37; H, 4.71; N, 20.33.
148.29, 139.45, 138.69, 137.39, 136.13, 131.62, 127.91, 121.02, The thermal polymerization of the AB4 monomer was
117.10, 116.77, 116.53, 116.24. carried out using the same procedures. Polymer from 4. IR
Preparation of 6 (AB8 Monomer). In a flask equipped (KBr): 1653, 1543 (amide CdO), 1601, 1443 cm-1 (aromatic).
1H NMR (DMSO-d ): δ 10.28, 10.25, 10.13, 10.05 (m, CONH),
with a magnetic stirrer and a hydrogen inlet were placed 5 6
(2.394 g, 2.0 mmol), DMAc (20 mL), and 10% Pd-C (0.851 g, 8.44, 8.33, 8.06, 8.03, 7.94, 7.91, 7.36, 7.31, 6.85, 6.35, 6.31,
0.8 mmol/Pd). The flask was degassed and purged with 6.00 (m, aromatic), 5.31 (br, NH2). Anal. Calcd for
hydrogen several times and then stirred at room temperature (C7H6N2O)n: C, 62.68; H, 4.51; N, 20.88. Found: C, 61.84; H,
for 2 days. The mixture was filtered using Celite-545. The 4.87; N, 20.30.
solution was poured into ethyl acetate. The product was End-Capping Reaction with Benzoyl Chloride. In a
filtered and dried at 80 °C in vacuo. The yield was 99%. IR flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a nitrogen inlet
(KBr): 1708 (carboxyl CdO), 1656, 1549 (amide CdO), 1601, were placed polymer from 2 (0.537 g, 4.0 mmol) and DMAc
2834 Ishida et al. Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000

Scheme 1. Synthesis of ABx (x ) 2, 4, and 8) Monomers

Scheme 2. Direct Polycondensation of ABx (x ) 2, 4, and 8) Monomers

(20 mL). The solution was cooled using a dry ice/acetone bath. measurements were carried out using a Seiko DSC 6200 at a
After the solution was frozen, benzoyl chloride (2.3 mL, 20 heating rate of 10 °C/min under nitrogen.
mmol) was added. The dry ice/acetone bath was then replaced
with an ice/water bath, and the solution was stirred for 15 h. Results and Discussion
The reaction mixture was then poured into methanol. The
product was filtered and dried at room temperature in vacuo. The AB4 dendron, 4, and AB8 dendron, 6, were
The yield was 92%. IR (KBr): 1659, 1545 (amide CdO), 1601, prepared by the divergent method, as shown in Scheme
1449 cm-1 (aromatic). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 10.63, 10.50 1. The dendron 3 was synthesized from 3,5-diaminoben-
(CONH), 8.55, 8.14, 8.02, 7.54 (aromatic). zoic acid 2 and 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride 1. 3 was
Measurements. Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a washed with hot methanol in order to remove excess 1
Shimadzu FTIR-8100 Fourier transform infrared spectropho- and its hydrate (generated by pouring the reaction
tometer. 1H NMR spectra were recorded on a JEOL JNM-AL mixture into dilute aqueous HCl) and then purified by
300 NMR spectrometer. Gel permeation chromatography recrystallization from THF. The AB4 dendron 4 was
(GPC) measurements using DMF containing 0.01 mol L-1 of prepared by the hydrogenation of 3. The structures of
lithium bromide as an eluent were carried out by using a Jasco
3 and 4 were confirmed by the 1H and 13C NMR spectra.
HPLC 880PU, polystyrene-divinylbenzene columns (two Sho-
dex KD-806M and KD-802), and a Shodex RI-71 refractive The AB8 dendron 6 was prepared by the hydrogenation
index detector. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and dif- of dendron 5, which was synthesized from 4 and 1. 5
ferential thermal analyses (DTA) were carried out using a was able to be isolated by reprecipitation into methanol
Seiko TGA 6200 TG/DTA analyzer at a heating rate of 10 °C/ because other compounds such as 1, its hydrate, and 4
min under nitrogen. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were soluble in methanol. The hydrogenation of 5
Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000 Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides 2835

Table 1. Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides by Direct Polycondensation

condensing equiv to yield ηinha
entry monomer agents COOH (%) (dL/g) Mwb Mw/Mnb DBc
1 2 TPP/Py 1.0 97 0.25 155 000 3.0 0.32
2 2 TPP/Py 2.0 100d
3 4 TPP/Py 1.0 96 0.21 139 000 2.7 0.72
4 4 TPP/Py 2.0 e
5 4 DBOP 1.2 99 0.25 193 000 3.3 0.67
6 6 TPP/Py 1.0 61
7 6 DBOP 1.2 94 0.36 109 000 2.6 0.84
a b
Measured at a concentration of 0.5 g/dL in DMF containing 0.01 mol/L of LiBr at 30 °C. Determined by GPC based on polystyrene
standards. c Determined by 1H NMR. d Precipitation occurred during the polymerization. e Gelation occurred during the polymerization.

Figure 3. Effect of the reaction time on Mw (]), Mn (0), and

DB (O) of the resulting polymer from the AB4 monomer 4 by
the direct polycondensation in the presence of TPP/pyridine.

monomer 6 was also carried out in the presence of 1.0

equiv of TPP. The yield was only 61%, and the 1H NMR
spectrum of the product was almost identical with that
of the starting material, which implies that the polym-
Figure 2. 1H NMR spectra of the AB8 monomer 6 and the
hyperbranched aromatic polyamides prepared by direct poly-
erization had proceeded insufficiently. Increasing the
condensation. amount of TPP to 1.2 equiv was ineffective in polymer-
izing 6. Because the TPP/pyridine system could not
proceeded quantitatively, and 6 was isolated by pouring polymerize 6, DBOP was used as an alternative con-
the reaction solution into ethyl acetate. The AB4 and densation agent to form the hyperbranched aromatic
AB8 dendrons, 3-6, could be isolated by simple recrys- polyamide. The direct polycondensation for both 4 and
tallization and reprecipitation; thus, these dendrons can 6 in the presence of DBOP proceeded in a homogeneous
be synthesized easily on a large scale. solution to form the corresponding polymer in high yield.
Direct polycondensation of the AB2, AB4, and AB8 The IR and 1H NMR spectra of the resulting polymer
monomerss2, 4, and 6swas carried out in the presence from 6 were similar to those of 2 and 4.
of condensation agents, as shown in Scheme 2 and Table All hyperbranched aromatic polyamides prepared
1. The polymerization of both 2 and 4 using 1.0 equiv from the three different monomers by direct polymeri-
of TPP as compared to the carboxyl groups of the zation were soluble in DMF, DMAc, NMP, and DMSO.
monomer proceeded efficiently in a homogeneous solu- The weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of the
tion to form the polymers in high yield. For both resulting polymers measured by GPC based on polysty-
resulting polymers, a carbonyl absorption corresponding rene standards were in the range of 100 000-200 000.
to amide bonds was observed at 1655 cm-1 in the IR The Mw of the polymer prepared using TPP/pyridine was
spectra, and signals attributed to the amide proton were close to that of the polymer prepared using DBOP in
observed at 10.58-9.70 ppm in the 1H NMR spectra. the case of the AB4 monomer 4. The inherent viscosity
The IR spectrum and chemical shifts in the 1H NMR of of the polymers was relatively low, which is consistent
the polymer from 2 were identical with those of the with the characteristics of hyperbranched polymers.
polymer from 4, which indicated that the polymers from 1H NMR spectra of the resulting polymers are shown

2 and 4 have the same repeating units. When 2 equiv in Figure 2. Peaks from the aromatic protons were
of TPP was used in the polymerization of 2, precipitation observed at 8.3, 7.9, 7.3, 6.9, 6.4, and 6.0 ppm. By
occurred during the reaction. The IR spectrum of the comparison of the spectra of the polymers from the AB8
resulting polymer showed the amide carbonyl absorp- monomer 6, the peaks at 8.3 and 7.9 ppm were at-
tion at 1655 cm-1, but the polymer was insoluble even tributed to the aromatic protons of the dendritic units
in aprotic polar solvents, which implies that an un- and the peaks at 6.4 and 6.0 ppm were attributed to
desired side reaction occurred during the polymeriza- those of the terminal units. The DB of the polymer from
tion. In the case of 4 using 2 equiv of TPP, the polymer the AB2 monomer 2 was calculated to be 0.32 from the
could not be isolated because the system gelated during integration ratio of the peaks from 1H NMR. The low
polymerization. Direct polycondensation of the AB8 DB is probably due to the steric hindrance and the lower
2836 Ishida et al. Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000

Table 2. Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides by Thermal Polymerization

temp time yielda solubility
entry monomer condition (°C) (min) (%) in DMAc Mwb Mw/Mnb DBc
1 2 N2 240 30 87 + 26 100 1.9 0.43
2 2 N2 270 6 25 +- 58 700 2.8 0.41
3 2 vacuum 240 30 d
4 4 N2 240 30 46 +- 24 300 2.0 0.71
5 4 N2 270 15 40 swell
6 4 vacuum 240 10 75 + 15 000 1.7 0.79
7 4 vacuum 270 5 73 + 16 500 2.0 0.76
a Soluble part in DMAc. b Determined by GPC based on polystyrene standards. c Determined by 1H NMR. d Sublimation occurred.

reactivity of amines in linear units relative to those in Table 3. Copolymerization of the AB2 and AB4 Monomers
the terminal units. On the other hand, the DBs of the Using the TPP/Pyridine System
polymers from 4 and 6 were 0.72 and 0.84, respectively. molar ratio yield
Thus, the polymers having high DBs were obtained by (2:4) (%) Mwa Mw/Mna DBb
using dendrons as starting materials. 100:0 97 155 000 3.0 0.32
The dependence of Mw, Mn, and DB on the reaction 90:10 100 78 000 1.9 0.39
time in the direct polymerization of the AB4 monomer 75:25 100 90 700 2.1 0.48
4 using TPP/pyridine is shown in Figure 3. Mw increased 50:50 100 101 000 2.3 0.61
0:100 96 139 000 2.7 0.72
with increasing reaction time, while Mn increased slowly
a Determined by GPC based on polystyrene standards. b Deter-
compared with the case of Mw. This resulted in a large
polydispersity for the obtained polymers. The DB of the mined by 1H NMR.
polymer decreased with increasing reaction time and
leveled off at about 0.72. It is reported by statistical 1650 cm-1, and peaks attributed to the amide proton
calculation that the DB of the polymer from AB2 were observed at 10.33-9.51 ppm in the 1H NMR
monomers decreased with increasing conversion and spectrum. The spectroscopic data of the resulting poly-
should approach 0.5.29 In this work, the same trend was mer were almost identical with those of the polymers
observed, but DB decreased toward 0.72 because the prepared by direct polycondensation. The resulting
AB4 monomer was used as a starting material. polymer was soluble in DMF, DMAc, NMP, and DMSO.
Using another synthetic route, thermal polymeriza- Under reduced pressure, sublimation of 2 was observed
tion of the ABx monomers was carried out. Thermal and polymerization did not proceed efficiently. In the
polymerization is very suitable for industrial use, case of the AB4 monomer 4, the polymerization pro-
because neither solvents nor catalysts are used; thus, ceeded even under reduced pressure. The spectroscopic
contamination from such impurities can be avoided. data of the hard foamlike products were almost identical
Although the thermal polymerization process is very with those of the polymers from 2. High reaction
useful for the synthesis of aliphatic polyamides with a temperature and longer reaction time gave polymers
high molecular weight, it is difficult to obtain aromatic having poor solubility. The thermal polymerization of
polyamides having a high molecular weight by thermal the AB8 monomer 6 failed although a weight loss was
polymerization. The reason has been explained by the observed at 260 °C in the TGA measurement of 6. The
low reactivity of aromatic amines due to the resonance product from 6 prepared at 260 °C was insoluble in
effect of the phenyl groups. In a previous paper, we DMSO and amide solvents, which implies that undes-
reported the successful thermal polycondensation of 3,5- ired side reactions occurred during the thermal polym-
bis(4-aminophenoxy) benzoic acid.18,19 This was achieved erization. The molecular weights of the resulting poly-
by selecting a monomer that has an amorphous state mers from 2 and 4 by the thermal polymerization were
during polymerization and an increased reactivity of the about 20 000, which were lower than those of the
amines by the ether substitutions at the paraposition. polymers prepared by the direct polycondensation. The
In this work, the ABx monomers in which the reactivity reason for the lower molecular weight is probably due
of the amines was not enhanced by substituents such to the high Tg of the resulting polymer. The DBs of the
as ether linkages afforded the hyperbranched aromatic polymers from 2 and 4 were 0.43 and 0.79, respec-
polyamides by thermal polymerization as summarized tively.30
in Table 2. A dark glassy product was obtained by the Next, copolymerization of 2 and 4 was carried out in
thermal polymerization of the AB2 monomer 2 under a the presence of TPP/pyridine, as shown in Table 3. The
nitrogen gas flow at 240 °C. In the IR spectrum of the copolymers of 2 and 4 in different molar ratios were
product, an amide carbonyl absorption was observed at obtained in good yield. The DB of the copolymer
Scheme 3. End-Capping Reaction of the Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides with Benzoyl Chloride
Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000 Synthesis of Hyperbranched Aromatic Polyamides 2837

respectively. Thus, it was found that DB had little

influence on Tg of the polymers. The fact that the Tg of
the end-capped polymers was higher than that of the
G5 dendron is explained by the higher molecular
weights of the polymers than that of the G5 dendron.
The end-capped polymers were soluble in aprotic polar
solvents such as DMF, DMAc, NMP, and DMSO. The
G5 dendron was soluble in aprotic polar solvents and
THF, whereas both the end-capped hyperbranched
polyamides from 2 and 4 were insoluble in THF. We
assume that the difference in solubility is caused by the
difference in architecture of the molecule: random for
the hyperbranched polymers and spherical for the G5
dendron.

Conclusions
Hyperbranched aromatic polyamides having high
molecular weights were prepared by the direct polycon-
densation of ABx monomers (x ) 2, 4, and 8). The DB of
the resulting polymers was increased to 0.84 by using
dendron 6 as starting materials, whereas the direct
polycondensation of the AB2 monomer 2 gave a DB of
0.32. Hyperbranched aromatic polyamides were also
prepared by thermal polymerization of the AB2 and AB4
monomers. It is notable that the thermal polymerization
proceeded even if the amino groups of the monomer
were not activated by substituents. The molecular
weight of the polymer prepared by the thermal polym-
erization method was relatively low compared with that
prepared by direct polymerization.
Copolymerization of the AB2 and AB4 monomers at
different molar ratios allowed the control of DB of the
resulting polymer. There was no detectable change in
solubility of the polymers having DBs in the range of
Figure 4. Structure of the aromatic polyamide G5 dendron. 0.32-0.72. Tg’s of the polymers end-capped with benzoyl
Table 4. Properties of the End-Capped Polymers with chloride were almost independent of the DB of the
Benzoyl Chloride original polymers and higher than that of the G5
solubility
dendron composed of the same units. A difference in
Tga solubility in THF was observed between the end-capped
DB Mw Mw/Mn (°C) THF DMAc
polymers and the G5 dendron, which is probably due
PolyAB2-ECb 0.34c 95 400d 2.5d 305 - + to differences in their architectures.
PolyAB4-ECb 0.72c 160 000d 4.2d 309 - +
G5 dendron 1.00 7 508e 1.0 275 + +
References and Notes
a Measured by DSC at a heating rate of 10 °C/min under N2.
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on polystyrene standards. e Formula weight. (3) Ardoin, N.; Astruc, D. Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1995, 132, 875.
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increased with increasing amount of the AB4 monomer Sci. 1998, 23, 1.
4. In other words, DB could be controlled from 0.32 to (6) Fréchet, J. M. J.; Hawker, C. J.; Gitsov, I.; Leon, J. W. Pure
0.72 by changing the ratio of the monomers. Changes Appl. Chem. 1996, A33 (10), 1399.
(7) Malmström, E.; Hult, A. Rev. Macromol. Chem. Phys. 1997,
in DB were not observed to have any effect on the C37 (3), 555.
solubility in this range of DB. (8) Hawker, C. J.; Lee, R.; Fréchet, J. M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
It is known that hyperbranched polymers have a large 1991, 113, 4583.
number of unreacted end groups which affect the (9) Wooley, K. J.; Hawker, C. J.; Lee, R.; Fréchet, J. M. J. Polym.
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thermal properties and solubility of the polymers. In this (10) Turner, S. R.; Walter, F.; Voit, B. I.; Mourey, T. H. Macro-
work, the numerous amino end groups of the hyper- molecules 1994, 27, 1611.
branched aromatic polyamides were modified by end- (11) Kricheldorf, H. R.; Zeng, Q. Z.; Schwarz, G. Polymer 1982,
capping with benzoyl chloride (Scheme 3) in order to 23, 1821.
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4592.
matic polyamide G5 dendron31 composed of the same (13) Kim, Y. H.; Webster, O. W. Macromolecules 1992, 25, 5561.
repeating units and end groups (Figure 4). The end- (14) Uhrich, K. E.; Hawker, C. J.; Fréchet, J. M. J. Macromolecules
capping reaction proceeded quantitatively according to 1992, 25, 4583.
the 1H NMR spectra. Thermal properties and solubili- (15) Miller, T. M.; Neeman, T. X.; Kwock, E. W.; Stein, S. M. J.
ties of the end-capped polymers were summarized in Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 356.
(16) Chu, F.; Hawker, C. J. Polym. Bull. 1993, 30, 265.
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was not detected, whereas the end-capped polymers (18) Yang, G.; Jikei, M.; Kakimoto, M. Macromolecules 1998, 31,
prepared from 2 and 4 had Tg’s of 305 and 309 °C, 5964.
2838 Ishida et al. Macromolecules, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2000

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