Two novel dendritic polymerizable monomers with multi hydroxyl groups at the arch deck and a vinyl group at the end of the wedge have been synthesized

their polymerization reactions by free radical initiation have been investigated.The results indicate that these molecules generally behave like those monomers containing allyl groups

which leads to a conclusion that the polymerization activities of the double bonds are not influenced by multiple hydroxyl groups nor their positions on the wedge.Dendron 1 with an allyl-ether end can be copolymerized with electron poor olefins such as acrylonitrile

but it does not homopolymerize

Dendron 2 with an methacrylate end undergoes both homo- and co-polymerization rapidly.These multi-hydroxyl wedges are water-soluble molecules and they build a new type of polymers consisting dendritic units hanging on a flexible linear chain.Most of these polymers are also water-soluble.