Hyperbranched polymers

Abstract

A method for limiting the transmission of light through a material is disclosed. In the method, a layer composed of a hyperbranched polymer formed via a copolycyclotrimerization reaction is interposed between a light source and the material. Also provided is a method for emitting light comprising exciting the hyperbranched polymer. In addition, methods for limiting the transmission of light and for emitting light using hyperbranched polymers formed by homopolycyclotrimerization reactions are disclosed. A new class of hyperbranched polymers.produced by copolycyclotrimerization is also disclosed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for limiting the transmission of light comprising interposing a layer composed of a hyperbranched polymer formed from copolycyclotrimerization of monomers of general formulae (I) and (II) between a light source and another material, wherein the monomers are:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or salts thereof; 
 X is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic optionally substituted alkylene, and optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene;  
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted, optionally interrupted linear or cyclic alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl;  
 P and Q are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene, optionally substituted linear or cyclic alkylene, and optionally substituted alkenylene of formula —(CR 4 =Z) p - or -(Z=CR 4 ) p — where Z represents CR 5  or N, R 4  and R 5  each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and p≧1;  
 and wherein m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3.  
 
     
     
         2 . A method for emitting light comprising exciting a hyperbranched polymer formed by copolycyclotrimerization of monomers of general formulae (I) and (II), wherein the monomers are:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or salts thereof; 
 X is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic optionally substituted alkylene, and optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene;  
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted, optionally interrupted linear or cyclic alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl;  
 P and Q are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene, optionally substituted linear or cyclic alkylene, and optionally substituted alkenylene of formula —(CR 4 =Z) p - or -(Z=CR 4 ) p — where Z represents CR 5  or N, R 4  and R 5  each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and p≧1;  
 and wherein m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3.  
 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of m or n is 1, and wherein P and/or Q are optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl groups.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein m is 1 and n is zero, and wherein P is phenylene.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein m and n are zero.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen and optionally interrupted C 1 -C 6  alkyl groups.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl and trimethylsilyl.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are hydrogen.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein X is a linear or cyclic optionally substituted alkylene group.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein X represents the group —(CH 2 ) k — where k is an integer between 1 and 12.  
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein k is between 3 and 8.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein X is an optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene group.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein X is an optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene group selected from phenylene, biphenylene, naphthylene, fluorenylene, anthracenylene, phenanthrenylene, thienylene, carbazylene, pyrenylene and pyridylene.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein X is substituted by one or more C 1 -C 10  alkyl groups.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein X is selected from 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-(2,3,5,6-tetramethyl)phenylene, 4,4′-biphenylene, 2,7-fluorenylene, 3,6-fluorenylene, 2,7-[9,9-bis(n-hexyl)]fluorenylene, 3,6-[9,9-bis(n-hexyl)]fluorenylene, 3,6-(N-hexyl)carbazylene, 3,6-(N-undecyl)carbazylene, 2,7-(N-hexyl)carbazylene and 2,7-(N-undecyl)carbazylene.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein Y is an optionally interrupted, optionally substituted alkyl group.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  where Y is a linear alkyl group having between 1 and 20 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein Y is an uninterrupted, optionally substituted alkyl group having between 3 and 10 carbon atoms in its carbon backbone.  
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein Y is substituted with a functional group selected from aryl, aryloxy and heterocyclic groups.  
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein Y is a linear alkyl group having between 1 and 20 carbon atoms, and being interrupted group of the general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein W represents a carbon-carbon single bond or a group of the formula —C(O)—O— or —O—C(O)—; and R 5  and R 6  independently represent —O—, —C(O)—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)— or a group of the formula —C(O)—O—(CH 2 ) h —O—(CO)i- where h is an integer between 1 and 10, and i is 0 or 1.  
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20  wherein Y is a linear alkyl group having between 1 and 20 carbon atoms, and being interrupted by one of the following groups:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein Y is an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group.  
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein Y is an optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl, flurorenyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, carbazolyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl or pyridinyl group.  
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein Y is phenyl or naphthyl.  
     
     
         25 . A method for limiting the transmission of light comprising interposing a layer composed of a hyperbranched polymer formed from homopolycyclotrimerization of monomers of general formula (I) between a light source and another material, wherein the monomers are:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or salts thereof; 
 X is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic optionally substituted alkylene, and optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene;  
 R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted, optionally interrupted linear or cyclic alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl or;  
 P and Q are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene, optionally substituted linear or cyclic alkylene, and optionally substituted alkenylene of formula —(CR 4 =Z) p - or -(Z=CR 4 ) p — where Z represents CR 5  or N, R 4  and R 5  each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and p≧1;  
 and wherein m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3.  
 
     
     
         26 . A method for emitting light comprising exciting a hyperbranched polymer formed by homopolycyclotrimerization of monomers of general formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or salts thereof; 
 X is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic optionally substituted alkylene, and optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene;  
 R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted, optionally interrupted linear or cyclic alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl or;  
 P and Q are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene, optionally substituted linear or cyclic alkylene, and optionally substituted alkenylene of formula —(CR 4 =Z) p - or -(Z=CR 4 ) p — where Z represents CR 5  or N, R 4  and R 5  each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and p≧1;  
 and wherein m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3.  
 
     
     
         27 . A hyperbranched polymer structure produced by reaction of monomers having the following general formulae:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or salts thereof; 
 wherein X is an optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene;  
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted, optionally interrupted linear or cyclic alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl;  
 P and Q are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylene or heteroarylene, optionally substituted linear or cyclic alkylene, and optionally substituted alkenylene of formula —(CR 4 =Z) p - or -(Z=CR 4 ) p — where Z represents CR 5  or N, R 4  and R 5  each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and p≧1;  
 and wherein m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3;  
 with the proviso that where X is a phenylene group or —CH 2 OC 6 H 4 OCH 2 —; R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are all hydrogen; and n and m are both equal to 0, Y is other than unsubstituted phenyl or a vinyl-substituted phenyl.