Linear and Hyperbranched Polymers via Electrophilic Substitution Reaction in Polyphosphoric $Acid/P_{2}O_{5}$

A superior electrophilic substitution reaction medium that is non-toxic, relatively less corrosive, and non-volatile electrophilic substitution reaction to afford high molecular weight linear and hyperbranched polyetherketones (PEK' s) was developed. The system has very strong driving force to give extra ordinary high molecular weight linear and hyperbranched PEK' s. The reaction medium was further extended to prepare various types of copolymers and covalently grafted polymers onto carbon nanotube (CNT) or carbon nanofiber (CNF). By using characteristic hydrophilic nature of the reaction medium, hyperbranched PEK' s could be synthesized from commercially available $A_3\;+\;B_2$ monomers without network formation via selective solubility of the monomers.