Structure and dynamics of dendritic macromolecules

The highly branched regular organosilicon polymer structures (dendrimers) were examined. A number of experimental techniques were used to study the structure and dynamics of dendritic macromolecules in a bulk state as well as in diluted solutions. The reliable quantitative structural and dynamical characteristics, which were obtained within a framework of a complex investigation, arranged a background to resolve several of the contradictions in accounting for the results coming from the various experimental methods and numerical calculations. The explanations were found for: (a) why dendrimers look as penetrable and impenetrable with the solvent at the same time; (b) why dendrimers reveal typical for the linear polymers segmental relaxation spectra and possess a translation diffusion of the whole macromolecule in addition. The small‐angle neutron scattering experiments on the dendrimers with the specially labeled terminal groups showed that the terminal groups are concentrated near the periphery of the dendrimer structure.