Layered dendritic block copolymers

A star-shaped molecule and a layered structure are displayed by the title compound, where the layers consist of high molecular weight polymers. A core molecule that is functionalized by six hydroxyl groups acts as the initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone, leading to a six-arm star polymer. The second layer of the dendritic block copolymer with 12, 24, or 48 hydroxyl groups (depending on the dendron generation in use) is obtained by the linkage of chain ends with functionalized dendrons. These macromolecules act as 'macroinitiators' for the construction of a further layer of poly(ε-caprolatone), the third generation of dendritic block copolymers.