Yamago Shigeru 28sept2026

Le 28 sept. 2026 à 11h00

Prof. Yamago Shigeru

Institute of Chemical Research (ICR), Kyoto University, Japan
CNRS Ambassador for Chemistry

"Dendritic Hyperbranched Polymers (DHBPs): Synthesis and Properties"

Polymer topology is a key structural parameter that directly influences the properties and functions of polymeric materials. However, progress in the study of polymers beyond linear topologies has been limited by the lack of practical synthetic methods that provide precise control over their structures. We are particularly interested in highly branched polymers, as their characteristic features, including compact structures, limited polymer chain entanglement, and numerous end groups, can be exploited to develop polymeric materials with novel functions.
Along this line, we have developed a new class of branch-inducing monomers, termed “evolmers,” for organotellurium-mediated radical polymerization (TERP). The copolymerization of evolmers with conventional vinyl monomers provides a practical and versatile approach to the synthesis of structurally controlled hyperbranched polymers (Scheme 1a). In this presentation, I will describe the details of this polymerization method and discuss the distinctive structural (Scheme 1b) and physical properties of the resulting hyperbranched polymers.

Scheme 1. a) Synthetic method of dendritic hyperbranched polymers and
b) their schematic ideal structures

References: a) Polym. J. 2021, 53, 847 (review). b) Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 1836. c) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 3952. d) Macromolecules 2020, 53, 3209. e) Macromolecules 2022, 55, 7932. f) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202305127. g) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202306916. h) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 25652. i) Small 2025, e08975. j) Langmuir 2026, 42, 509.

• 1986                     Undergraduate, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Prof. E. Nakamura)
• 1988                     Summer Student, University of California (Prof. P. Vollhardt)
• 1991                     Ph. D., Tokyo Institute of Technology (Prof. E. Nakamura)
• 1991–1995           Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• 1995–2003          Assistant Professor, Kyoto University (Prof. J. Yoshida)
• 2000                    Visiting Scientist, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
• 2003–2006          Professor, Osaka City University
• 2006–present      Professor, Kyoto University

His main research topics:

• Nanotechnology/Materials, Synthetic organic chemistry
• Life sciences, Bioorganic chemistry
• Nanotechnology/Materials, Structural/physical organic chemistry

For more information

Some illustration of his research