In this work, a variety of hyperbranched polymers
(HBPs), such as hyperbranched polycarbonates, polyesters,
polyurethanes and polyacetals, was successfully synthesized
from castor oil and soybean oil based monomers via a A21B3
polycondensation. First, B3 monomer triols (TriOL), trialdehydes
(TriAD), and tricarboxylic acids (TriAC) were obtained by
ozonolysis of castor oil and soybean oil with following reductive
or oxidative treatment. Their structures were characterized
by 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as well as electrospray
ionization-Time of Flight-mass spectrometry. These trifunctional
B3 monomers were applied in the preparation of HBPs.
The resulting HBPs had number averaged molar mass (Mn) up
to 9400 g/mol and weight averaged molar mass (Mw) up to
40,000 g/mol. Through adjusting the initial molar ratio of A2 to
B3 monomers, hydroxyl terminated (from TriOL monomers) or
carboxylic acid (from TriAC monomers) terminated HBPs could
be obtained. All the HBPs were characterized by 1H NMR, size
exclusion chromatography, and DSC. These HBPs are potential
candidates for the synthesis of cross-linked polymeric materials
or in biomedical applications.