Preparation of multiply-branched cycloalkyl polyesters and multiply-branched cycloalkyl polyesters

A method for producing a multiply-branched polymer comprising the step of condensing a branching reactant represented by the general formula ##STR23## wherein j.sup.1 is 1 or 2,

• j.sup.2 is 1 or 2,
• each R.sup.4 is independently selected and is a direct link or is selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbons, fluoroalkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbons --O--, --S--, ##STR24## Z.sup.1 is hydroxyl or -OSi(CH.sub.3).sub.3, and each Z.sup.2 is independently selected from groups having the structural formula ##STR25## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, chloro, bromo, monovalent alkoxide having from 1 to about 6 carbons, and --O-- (CH.sub.2).sub.g --OH, wherein g is an integer from 1 to 3,
• or
• Z.sup.1 has the structural formula ##STR26## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, chloro, bromo, monovalent alkoxide having from 1 to about 6 carbons, and --O-- (CH.sub.2).sub.g --OH, wherein g is an integer from 1 to 3,
• each Z.sup.2 is hydroxyl, and
• each R3 is an independently selected alkyl or heteroalkyl ring system having from 5 to about 15 carbons.

A multiply branched cycloalkyl polyester having repeating units represented by the general formulas:

• ##STR34## wherein m is 2, 3, or 4, ##STR35## CYCLO is selected from the group consisting of non-aromatic ring systems having from 1 to 8, solitary or fused or linked alkyl or heteroalkyl rings,
• Z is selected from the group consisting of ##STR36## --OH, and --OSi(CH.sub.3).sub.3, wherein
• R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, chloro, bromo, monovalent alkoxide having from 1 to about 6 carbons, and --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.d --OH, wherein d is an integer from 1 to 3,
• R.sup.2 is a divalent alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, and
• g is an integer from 0 to about 100, with the provisos that if CYCLO is a solitary ring then m is 2 or 3 and if Z is bonded to a linear aliphatic linking group then Z is selected from the group consisting of ##STR37## --OH, and --OSi(CH.sub.3).sub.3.