Abstract Sucrose ethyleneoxide adducts have been prepared by reaction of sucrose with various amounts of ethyleneoxide in DMSO. The resulting polypode molecules were found to be efficient phase transfer catalysts in nucleophilic substitutions, oxidation and dichlorcarbene generation. Polymerisable polypodes have been obtained by reaction of sucrose ethyleneoxide adducts with methacrylic anhydride or methacryloylchloride in ...