Use of 4-piperidones in one-pot syntheses of novel, high-molecular-weight linear and virtually 100%-hyperbranched polymers.

4-Piperidone and 4-alkyl piperidones react selectively with aromatic hydrocarbons in a mixture of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) and CH(2)Cl(2) to give linear polymers, while N-(2-phenethyl)piperidone undergoes self-polymerization to yield virtually 100%-hyperbranched polymer.