Three sets of aliphatic polyester dendrimers based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis-MPA) were synthesized. Two of the sets had benzylidene terminal groups and either a trimethylolpropane or triphenolic core moiety. The last set had acetonide terminal groups and a triphenolic core moiety. Benzylidene-[G#1]-anhydride and acetonide-[G#1] -anhydride were used as the reactive building blocks in the construction of all dendrimers. The large excess of building blocks used in the coupling reactions initially resulted in considerable material loss. This waste was eliminated through the development of a recycling method. H-1 and C-13 NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis were used to verify the purity of all compounds. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used, as well as MALDI-TOF, for molecular weight determinations. The SEC measurements were conducted with a universal calibration method and an online right-angle laser light scattering detector. Measured dendrimer molecular weights were close to their theoretical molar masses. Observations were also made of the hydrodynamic radius and intrinsic viscosity for the different dendrimers. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.