Process for preparing highly branched macromolecule polymers

Claim 1

A process for preparing a highly branched macromolecule polymer comprising the step of reacting a branching monomer, having functional groups thereon, having the formula: ##STR8## wherein R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of: COOH C(O)--OC 6 H 5 O--CH 2 CH 2 OH O--C(O)--CH 3 and N--CH 2 CH 2 OH R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: COOH OH NH 2 and O--C(O)--CH 3 ; with the proviso that (a) when R 1 is --COOH, R 2 and R 3 must be the same but not equal to R 1 , and R 2 and R 3 are either OH or O--C(O)--CH 3 , and (b) when R 1 is --C(O)--OC 6 H 5 , R 2 and R 3 are equal and are either OH or NH 2 ; and (c) when R 1 is O--CH 2 CH 2 OH, R 2 and R 3 are equal, and R 2 and R 3 are COOH; with a core monomer, having functional groups thereon, selected from the group consisting of: ##STR9## wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl radical having from one (1) to six (6) carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having from four (4) to seven (7) carbon atoms, and aryl; Y is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl group of one (1) a four (4) carbon atoms, chlorine, and bromine; z independently has a value of zero (0) to four (4), inclusive; R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of one (1) to eight (8) carbon atoms and halogenated derivatives thereof, cycloalkylene or cycloalkylidine radicals having up to and including nine (9) carbon atoms and halogenated derivatives thereof, O, S, SO 2 , and CO; and x is 0 or 1; ##STR10## at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to produce said highly branched polymer, with the proviso that the core monomer contains functional groups which will only react with one of the three functional groups of the branching monomer.