Conformations of two linear, charged dendronized polymers in aqueous solutions of different ionic strengths have been studied by light scattering. Both polymers have a polyacrylic core. The repeating unit of the first of the polymers studied contains a residue of aspartic acid bound to a carboxylic group of the core by an amide group as a first‐generation dendron, whereas the second polymer contains second‐generation dendrons constructed of three molecules of aspartic acid. The dendritic polymers adopt different conformations depending on the generation. Polymers with first‐generation dendrons are flexible and their conformation is sensitive to salt. The polymers with dendrons of the second generation adopt a semi‐flexible rod conformation. Their conformation is not sensitive to salt but is determined by the bulkiness of the dendrons.Polyacrylic polymers having a residue of aspartic acid as a first‐generation dendron (P1), and having a second‐generation dendron on the basis of aspartic acid (P2).magnified imagePolyacrylic polymers having a residue of aspartic acid as a first‐generation dendron (P1), and having a second‐generation dendron on the basis of aspartic acid (P2).

Summary: A new principle for the design of dendritic macromolecules – the ionic binding of linear chain polyelectrolyte with oppositely charged focal ionogenic groups of dendrons – has been developed. The majority of the dendritic ionic complexes (DICs) are prepared with poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS) as a polymeric core and L‐aspartic acid dendrons of different generations. Two series of DICs were prepared using PSS and aspartic dendrons bearing terminal (located at the external periphery) methoxycarbonyl and hexyloxycarbonyl groups (C1‐n and C6‐n respectively where n is the generation number). Ionic binding of about 100% was found for dendrons of Generation 1–3. The solubility of the DICs was examined and the DICs prepared were studied by IR spectroscopy, 1H NMR and viscometry.

Different approaches, including polycondensation, polymerization, polymer analog condensation, and ionic binding have been investigated for synthesis of amino acid‐based dendritic polymers. It was shown that a growth of dendrons generation prevents obtaining of products with high polymerization degree in polycondensation and polymerization procedures. In polymer analog condensation a growth of dendrons generation leads to considerable decrease of polymer analog reaction rate as well as substitution degree. Degree of ionic binding depends on a strength of ionogenic groups and dendrns generation.