Patent ID: 7297722

Claim:
A radially multi-branched polymer represented by formula (I), which includes a central molecule (A) to which side-branches (B) are bonded in at least three positions (i≧3): ABi (I) wherein the central molecule (A) is selected from the group consisting of: wherein X is H or CH 3 ; the side-branch (B) is —R or wherein R is selected from the group consisting of the following R 1 to R 4 , with the proviso that if i is 3, R is selected from the group consisting of R 1 , R 3 and R 4 ; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: (OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OZ, (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) n OZ, (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) n OZ, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) n (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) m (OCH 2 CH 2 ) k OZ, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) n (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) m (OCH 2 CH 2 ) k OZ, (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) n (OCH 2 CH 2 ) m (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) k OZ, (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) n (OCH 2 CH 2 ) m (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) k OZ, (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) n (OCH 2 CH 2 ) m (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) k OZ and (OCHCH 3 CH 2 ) n (OCH 2 CH 2 ) m (OCH 2 CHCH 3 ) k OZ; R 2 is OCOC(CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 CQ(CO 2 Z)) n W; R 3 is (O(CH 2 ) n CO) m OZ; R 4 is (NH(CH 2 ) n CO) m NZ 2 ; wherein each of n, m and k represents an integer between 0 and 200; Q is selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 OH and CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ; W is selected from Br, I and H; Z is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, vinyl (—CH═CH 2 ), —CCH, propargyl, allyl, benzyl, acetyl (COCH 3 ), propionyl, isobutyryl, neopetyryl, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OMe) 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OEt) 3 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 SiMe(OMe) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 SiMe(OEt) 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OMe)Me 2 , CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OEt)Me 2 , CH 2 CH 2 OH and CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ; Y is a linking group between a central molecule and a side-branch, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O and OCH 2 ; and i is a natural number from 3 to 6.