Conférence Prof. Shigeru Yamago Ambassadeur des Sciences Chimiques du CNRS

Prof. Shigeru Yamago

Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University  
Uji 611-001, Japon
E-mail: yamago@scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Dendritic Hyperbranched Polymers (DHBPs): Synthesis and Properties

Polymer topology is a key structural parameter that directly influences the properties and functions of polymeric materials. However, progress in the study of polymers beyond linear topologies has been limited by the lack of practical synthetic methods that provide precise control over their structures. We are particularly interested in highly branched polymers, as their characteristic features, including compact structures, limited polymer chain entanglement, and numerous end groups, can be exploited to develop polymeric materials with novel functions.

Along this line, we have developed a new class of branch-inducing monomers, termed “evolmers,” for organotellurium-mediated radical polymerization (TERP). The copolymerization of evolmers with conventional vinyl monomers provides a practical and versatile approach to the synthesis of structurally controlled hyperbranched polymers (Scheme 1a). In this presentation, I will describe the details of this polymerization method and discuss the distinctive structural (Scheme 1b) and physical properties of the resulting hyperbranched polymers.

Scheme 1. a) Synthetic method of dendritic hyperbranched polymers and b) their schematic ideal structures

Références

a) J. 2021, 53, 847 (review). b) Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 1836. c) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 3952. d) Macromolecules 2020, 53, 3209. e) Macromolecules 2022, 55, 7932. f) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202305127. g) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202306916. h) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 25652. i) Small 2025, e08975. j) Langmuir 2026, 42, 509.