Abstract: Hyperbranched compounds having a tetrafunctional central group of the general formula I C[—Aq—X—]m[—Ar—X—]n[—As—X—]o[—At—X—]p  (I), in which the indices and variables have the following meanings: m+n+o+p=4; where m=an integer from 1 to 3 and n, o and p=0 or an integer from 1 to 3; q,r,s and t=an integer from 1 to 5, where q>r, s and t; X=—O—, —S— or —NH—; A=—CR2—; where R=—H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —CN, —NO2, C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 haloalkyl or C1-C3 alkoxy radical or,  if q, r, s and/or t=at least 2, a C2-C4 alkanediyl and/or C2-C4 oxaalkanediyl radical which bridges 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and/or an oxygen atom —O—, which bridges 3 to 5 carbon atoms, of the radical —A—.