A novel hyperbranched polyester functionalized with azo chromophore: synthesis and photoresponsive properties

Summary A hyperbranched polymer containing azo chromophores on the periphery has been synthesized from transesterification reaction between a hyperbranched polyester bearing peripheral hydroxyl groups and ethyl 4-{4'-N, Ndi(hydroxyethyl)aminobutoxy]phenylazo}benzoate. The hyperbranched polyester was obtained by adding the AB₂ monomers step by step to a multifunctional core molecule. Narrow molecular weight distribution, with a polydispersity index as low as 1.1, was achieved by this method. The azobenzene- functionalized hyperbranched polymer as well as the corresponding azo monomer showed typical photoresponsive behavior of an azobenzene type molecule. The trans azobenzene units of the hyperbranched polymer could be reversibly switched by UV irradiation to the cis form that recovered slowly to the trans form in the dark. However, significantly less conversion from the trans isomer to the cis isomer was observed for the azobenzenefunctionalized hyperbranched polymer at the photostationary states under the irradiation of UV light, which could be attributed to the increased steric hindrance in the hyperbranched polymer. Received: 1 April 2002 /Revised version: 10 July 2002/ Accepted: 15 July 2002