Structural Analysis of Hyperbranched Polyhydrocarbon Synthesized by Electrochemical Polymerization

Abstract

We describe a structural analysis method for a hyperbranched polyhydrocarbon (PHC) produced by electrochemical polymerization. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques including 1H-NMR, quantitative 13C-NMR, DEPT 13C-NMR, and 1H-13C HSQC 2D NMR along with elemental analysis and FTIR were used to experimentally assess the likely structure of this complex polymer with random branching. The polymer structure was modeled based on the NMR results. Room temperature density, refractive index, melting temperature, and IR spectrum were good matches to the values, and spectrum, calculated using the simulated structure. Calculated Hildebrand solubility parameters for the simulated structure rationalize the room temperature solubility measured in a range of solvents. The experimental and modeling methods are likely to be applicable to any type of highly branched random branching polymer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive elucidation of the structure of an unknown and randomly hyperbranched polymer by combining experimental results and theoretical simulation, and the methods described should find broad use in the future.