Hyperbranched polyacetals (HBPAs) bearing cyclic carbonate
(CC) terminals were synthesized from protocatechuric aldehydes
bearing bifunctional trimethylolpropane (TMP) or glycerol
(Gly) structures and then utilized to design polymer electrolytes
and networked polymer materials. Since TMP-based cyclic acetals
(CAs) are thermodynamically more stable than Gly-derived CSs,
the copolymerization of these monomers favors to form HBPAs
comprising TMP-based acetal stems and Gly terminals. Consequently,
HBPAs composed of larger amounts of TMP or Gly terminals
were separately synthesized by changing monomer feed
ratios. Their diol terminals react efficiently with diphenyl carbonate
to give HBPAs bearing 5- or 6-membered CC (5-CC or 6-CC)
terminals. HBPAs bearing 5-CC terminals were mixed homogeneously
with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide to form
uniform films showing lithium ion conductivity ranging from
8.2 × 10−9 to 2.1 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 23–80 C, whereas networked
polycarbonate and polyhydroxyurethane films were successfully
fabricated using HBPAs having CC terminals. These results apparently
indicate that HBPAs having CC terminals are useful scaffolds
to design functional polymer materials.