Synthetic approaches to an isostructural series of redox-active, metal tris(bipyridine) core dendrimers

Several types of six-armed, metal tris(bipyridine) core dendrimers were synthesized. Bis-4,4'-alkoxy bipyridine dendrons were prepared and employed to make tris(bipyridine) dendrimers. Although the ruthenium-centered and iron-centered dendrimers displayed quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetry, the analogous cobalt-centered complex did not. The synthesis of 4,4'-disubstituted bipyridines containing -CH(2)OR groups proceeded in low yield. The reactions of the dicarbanion of 4,4'-dimethyl bipyridine prepared with LDA and mesylate, triflate, and bromide groups were found to result in no or poor yields of carbon-carbon bond formation. Use of KDA in place of LDA resulted in much higher yields of dendritic bipyridines.     

Dendritic chelating agents. 1. Cu(II) binding to ethylene diamine core poly(amidoamine) dendrimers in aqueous solutions

This paper describes an investigation of the uptake of Cu(II) by poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with an ethylenediamine (EDA) core in aqueous solutions. We use bench scale measurements of proton and metal ion binding to assess the effects of (i) metal ion-dendrimer loading, (ii) dendrimer generation/terminal group chemistry, and (iii) solution pH on the extent of binding of Cu(II) in aqueous solutions of EDA core PAMAM dendrimers with primary amine, succinamic acid, glycidol, and acetamide terminal groups. We employ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to probe the structures of Cu(II) complexes with Gx-NH2 EDA core PAMAM dendrimers in aqueous solutions at pH 7.0. The overall results of the proton and metal ion binding measurements suggest that the uptake of Cu(II) by EDA core PAMAM dendrimers involves both the dendrimer tertiary amine and terminal groups. However, the extents of protonation of these groups control the ability of the dendrimers to bind Cu(II). Analysis of the EXAFS spectra suggests that Cu(II) forms octahedral complexes involving the tertiary amine groups of Gx-NH2 EDA core PAMAM dendrimers at pH 7.0. The central Cu(II) metal ion of each of these complexes appears to be coordinated to 2-4 dendrimer tertiary amine groups located in the equatorial plane and 2 axial water molecules. Finally, we combine the results of our experiments with literature data to formulate and evaluate a phenomenological model of Cu(II) uptake by Gx-NH2 PAMAM dendrimers in aqueous solutions. At low metal ion-dendrimer loadings, the model provides a good fit of the measured extent of binding of Cu(II) in aqueous solutions of G4-NH2 and G5-NH2 PAMAM dendrimers at pH 7.0.     

Synthesis and catalytic activities of Pd-phosphine complexes modified poly(ether imine) dendrimers

In this paper, we report synthesis of new alkyldiphenyl phosphine ligand modified poly(ether imine) dendrimers up to the third generation. The phosphinated dendrimers were obtained by functional group transformations of the alcohols present at the periphery of the dendrimers to chloride, followed by phosphination using LiPPh₂. The modification at the peripheries of the dendrimers was performed successfully to obtain up to 16 alkyl diphenylphosphines in the case of a third generation dendrimer, in good yields for each individual step. After phosphination, dendritic ligands were complexed with Pd(COD)Cl₂ to give dendritic phosphine-Pd^II complexes. Both the ligands and the metal complexes were characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques including high-resolution mass spectral analysis for the lower generations. Evaluation of the catalytic efficacies of the dendrimer-Pd^II metal complexes in mediating a prototypical C-C bond forming reaction, namely the Heck reaction, was performed using various olefin substrates. While the substrate conversion lowered with catalyst in the order from monomer to third generation dendrimer, the second and third generation dendrimers themselves were found to exhibit significantly better catalytic activities than the monomer and the first generation dendrimer.     

Synthesis and studies of Rh(I) catalysts within and across poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers

In order to study the efficiencies of catalytic moieties within and across dendrimer generations, partially and fully functionalized dendrimers were synthesized. Poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers from zero to three generations, presenting 3 to 24 peripheral functionalities, were utilized to prepare as many as 12 catalysts. The dendrimer peripheries were partially and fully functionalized with triphenylphosphine in the first instance. A rhodium(I) metal complexation was performed subsequently to afford multivalent dendritic catalysts, both within and across generations. Upon synthesis, the dendritic catalysts were tested in the hydrogenation of styrene, in a substrate-to-catalyst ratio of 1:0.001. Turn-over-numbers were evaluated for each catalyst, from which significant increases in the catalytic activities were identified for multivalent catalysts than monovalent catalysts, both within and across generations.     

Inverse Polyamidoamine (i-PAMAM) Dendrimer Antimicrobials

Here we redesigned the branches of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers by moving the amide carbonyl group on the other side of the amide nitrogen atom, transforming the β-alaninyl-amidoethylamine branch, which easily undergoes retro-Michael reactions and renders PAMAMs intrinsically unstable, into a more stable glycyl-amidopropylamine branch. The resulting inverse PAMAM (i-PAMAM) dendrimers have the same carbon framework as PAMAMs and only differ by the position of the carbonyl group. In contrast to PAMAMs which are prepared in solution and are difficult to purify, we synthesize i-PAMAMs using high-temperature solid-phase peptide synthesis by iterative coupling and deprotection of the commercially available N,N-bis(N′-Fmoc-3-aminopropyl)glycine and purify them preparative reverse phase HPLC. Our i-PAMAM dendrimers show no detectable degradation over time. We demonstrate this new class of dendrimers with the synthesis of antimicrobial dendrimers with potent yet non-membrane disruptive activities against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.     

Paramagnetic cobalt(II) as an NMR probe of dendrimer structure: mobility and cooperativity of dendritic arms

Cobalt(II) has been utilized as an external paramagnetic (1)H NMR probe for the study of the structure of dendrimers that possess specifically located metal recognition sites. The hyperfine-shifted (1)H NMR signals of the Co(II) complexes of several 2,6-diamidopyridine-containing dendrimers have been fully assigned by means of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including NOE difference, EXSY, COSY, and TOCSY. Temperature-dependent T(1) values of the hyperfine-shifted signals were used to conclude that the Co(II)-dendrimer complexes are in the "liquidlike" regime, indicative of a shell-like structure instead of a "dense-core" structure. The presence of sizable cavities within the dendrimers was observed including a loosely packed conformation for the 2,6-diamidopyridino moiety to bind to potential guest molecules. Cooperativity among the dendritic arms in metal binding is also observed, whereby two dendritic arms bind to the metal center at the same time. In the case of dendrimers with the metal binding site located near the surface of the molecule, such binding cooperativity is still observed despite the large degree of freedom of the metal-binding moiety. Cooperativity among the dendritic arms can thus be considered an intrinsic property, which has to be taken into consideration in future design of functional dendrimers for the purpose of specific recognition and catalysis. The hydrodynamic radii of these dendrimers have been determined by means of nuclear Overhouser effect at low temperature. The study offers a method for the study of the dynamics of dendrimers in solution under different conditions and upon ligand binding and recognition. The study also provides a tool for monitoring systematic variation of the metal binding site in different dendrimer frameworks for specific applications, such as catalysis and molecular recognition.     

Phosphite dendrimers and their organometallic derivatives

The synthesis of new classes of dendrimers, boranophosphate triesters and phosphite-based dendrimers has been accomplished. The latter compounds have been successfully transformed into their palladium(II) and rhodium(I) complexes, possessing metal derivatives attached to the branching points within the dendrimer.     

Organometallic dendrimers based on (tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cyclopentadienylcobalt modules

The synthesis and characterization of novel organometallic polyphenylene dendrimers containing 24 or 44 phenyl rings and one cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt unit is reported. The dendrimers are made by the convergent CpCo(CO)(2)-mediated dimerization of di- or tetraethynyltolanes followed by a divergent core extension utilizing tetraphenylcyclopentadienone. The obtained dendrimers are air and water stable, soluble materials that show interesting differences in their hydrodynamic properties as evidenced by gel permeation chromatography. Scanning pulse voltammetry in solution shows that the dendrimers are oxidized at potentials ranging from 0.8 to 0.83 V. The more sterically encumbered the dendrimer, the higher its oxidation potential, that is, the more difficult oxidation is.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethyleneimine) dendrimers

Poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) dendrimers up to the third generation (G3) were prepared by a divergent synthesis method from an ethylenediamine (EDA) core. The amine terminals were bonded with vinylbromide by a Michael addition reaction. Then, the bromide terminals were converted to amine groups using a Gabriel amine synthesis method. PEI dendrimers displayed pH-dependent luminescence, and their emission intensities at pH 6 increased over time. Fluorescence intensities also increased with increasing dendrimer generation from G1 to G3. Air-bubbling in aqueous solutions of dendrimers made to incorporate detectable amount of oxygen in dendrimers. EDA also behaved similarly in luminescence and oxygen incorporation.

Electrochemistry of non-redox-active poly(propylenimine) and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers at liquid-liquid interfaces

The electrochemistry of a series of dendrimers was examined at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES), enabling study of non-redox-active dendrimers. Different generations of poly(propylenimine) (DAB-AM-n) and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were studied. In their protonated states, the dendrimers were transferred across the ITIES, with the electrochemical behavior observed depending on the dendrimer family, the generation number, and the experimental pH. The electrochemistry of the lower generations studied was characterized by well-defined peaks for both dendrimer families and with small peak-peak separations in the case of the PAMAM family. The voltammetry of the higher generations was more complex, showing distorted voltammograms and instability of the interface. The charges of the transferring dendrimers were calculated by convolution of the voltammetric data and were similar to the theoretical charges for DAB-AM-n. For PAMAM, only the lowest generation exhibited reversible behavior, with higher generations having irreversible behavior. Using cyclic voltammetry, low micromolar concentrations of the dendrimers were detected. The results show that electrochemistry at the ITIES can be a useful method for characterization of ionizable dendrimers and that voltammetry can be a simple method for detection of low concentrations of these multicharged species.     

First generation poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers functionalised with 1,8-naphthalimide units as fluorescence sensors for metal cations and protons

The synthesis of two new green fluorescent poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers from first generation has been described. The new materials are comprised of a 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophore having a substituent at C-4 position. The substituent in the first case is a N,N-dimethylaminoethylamino group while in the second one it is N-methylpiperazine. The spectroscopic and photophysical characteristics of the new dendrimers determined in organic solvent of different polarity have been presented. Both dendrimers show substantial increases in their fluorescence intensity in the presence of metal cations (Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ag⁺) and protons. The influence of the photoinduced electron transfer on their sensing properties has been discussed.     

Photoinduced electron transfer within porphyrin-containing poly(amide) dendrimers

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of a series of free base porphyrin-containing polyamide dendrimers terminated with anthraquinone groups (FbP-Ga-AQ(n)(), a = 1-3, n = 12, 36, 108) are described. Substantial quenching (58-75%) of the porphyrin fluorescence of FbP-Ga-AQ(n)() is observed when compared to the analogous ethyl-terminated dendrimers (FbP-Ga-Et(n)()) in steady-state fluorescence experiments and is attributed to intramolecular electron transfer. Time-resolved fluorescence experiments were fit to 2-3 exponentials, indicating multiple orientations for electron transfer, consistent with the flexible nature of these dendrimers.     

The synthesis and properties of iridium(III)-cored dendrimers with carbazole peripherally functionalized beta-diketonato dendrons

A simple convergent synthetic approach has been developed for the synthesis of iridium(III)-cored dendrimers with carbazole peripherally functionalized beta-diketonato dendrons. The zeroth- to third-generation green-emitting dendrimers were synthesized by reacting the corresponding beta-diketonato dendrons with iridium(III) dimer under mild conditions with good yields, respectively. This approach proved to be modular, and could be used to prepare blue-green-emitting and red-emitting dendrimers with the same beta-diketonato dendrons only by using different cyclometallating ligands. The resulting dendritic ligands and iridium(III)-cored dendrimers were well characterized. Their photoluminescent properties both in solution and in the solid state were tested. It was found that all the dendrimers retained the photophysical properties of the corresponding small analogues with high emission quantum yields (0.06-0.30). Preliminary results indicated that these dendrimers functionalized carbazole units exhibited distinct light-harvesting potential, resulting in a strong intense emission from the iridium core of the dendrimers.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-amino-propan-1-ol based poly(ether imine) dendrimers

A general synthetic strategy for the rapid construction of poly(ether imine) dendrons and dendrimers with a nitrogen core, originating from 3-amino-propan-1-ol, is described. A new trifunctional monomer, namely, 3-[bis-(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]propan-1-ol, was used in a divergent synthesis of dendrimers up to the third generation. This method permitted installation of, either alcohol, amine, nitrile, ester or carboxylic acid groups at the peripheries the dendrimers. Cytotoxicity studies on water-soluble carboxylic acid terminated dendrimers were conducted and these studies revealed that poly(ether imine) dendrimers were non-toxic. These results illustrate that poly(ether imine) dendrimers are useful for biological studies.     

Synthesis of poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers

Poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers of up to four generations composed of a phloroglucinol core, branching components, and pentamethylene spacers are synthesized by a divergent growth methodology. A repetitive synthetic sequence of phenolic O-alkylation and O-benzyl deprotection reactions are adopted for the synthesis of these dendrimers. The peripheries of the dendrimers contain 6, 12, 24, and 48 phenolic hydroxyl groups, either in the protected or unprotected form, for the first, second, third, and fourth generations, respectively. Because of the presence of hydrophilic exterior and relatively hydrophobic interior regions, alkaline aqueous solutions of these dendrimers are able to solubilize an otherwise insoluble pyrene molecule and these supramolecular complexes precipitate upon neutralization of the aqueous solutions.     

含硅的树枝状大分子的研究进展

树枝状大分子是一类具有规则的、高度支化的三维结构的高分子 ,含硅的树枝状大分子是以硅原子作为两代之间的支化点的树枝状大分子。本文主要综述了硅氧烷型、碳硅烷型、硅烷型树枝状大分子的合成方法及含硅的树状金属络合物的研究进展。     

Synthesis of carbohydrate‐linked poly(polyoxometalate) poly(amido)amine dendrimers

Mannose‐functionalized and ethoxyethanol‐functionalized poly(amido)amine dendrimers bound multiple vanadate‐substituted polyoxotungstate Wells–Dawson‐type polyoxometalates (POMs). Dendrimers incorporating 10–30 POMs were characterized with NMR, transmission electron microscopy, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry techniques. The number of metal clusters per dendrimer molecule varied according to the dendrimer generation and the nature of the surface functional groups. Efforts aimed at using the poly(polyoxometalate) dendrimers as oxidation catalysts are also described. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3059–3066, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent poly(aromatic amide) dendrimers

The synthesis of a series of poly(aromatic amide) dendrimers up to the second generation is described herein. The AB(2) building block used throughout the synthesis of the dendrimers was the allyl ester of 3,5-diaminocinnamic acid, which has been synthesized from 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in good yield with use of a four-step procedure. Dendron synthesis was achieved via a convergent approach with use of a sequence of deprotection/coupling steps. Two commercially available alcohols, L-menthol and citronellol, were coupled to the AB(2) monomer by using an alkyl diacid spacer and two core units; 1,7-diaminoheptane and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine have been used to produce the final dendrimers. Characterization was carried out by NMR and IR spectroscopies, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, GPC, and DSC. The novel monomer and dendritic derivatives exhibited a strong fluorescence emission in the visible region (lambda approximately 500 nm) of the spectrum and a weak emission in the near-infrared (lambda approximately 850 nm) upon excitation in the near-UV region. The fluorescence emission characteristics were found to be solvent and dendrimer generation dependent.     

STM vizualization of thiol-containing peptide dendrimers on Au(111)

Peptide dendrimers assembled by solid-phase peptide synthesis using a branching diamino acid at every 2(nd) or 3(rd) position provide readily accessible synthetic model systems for proteins and enzymes. They adopt a globular shape by topology rather than by folding. Peptide dendrimers of 2(nd) and 3(rd) generation functionalized with a cysteine or cystine residue in the core were adsorbed on Au(111) surface and imaged by STM at air, under UHV, or in solution. The dendrimers appear as globular features with dimensions suggesting an extended flattened conformation, forming both single globules and ordered arrays on the surface. These images represent the first direct visualization of peptide dendrimer enzyme models.     

Synthesis of poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers and evaluation of their cytotoxic properties

In this paper, we report the synthesis of several poly(propyl ether imine) dendrons and dendrimers. These dendrons and dendrimers were constructed by involving an ether as the linker component and an imine as the branching component. The divergent syntheses of dendrons and dendrimers were established with the aid of two alternate Michael addition reactions and two alternate reduction reactions in a four-step iterative synthetic sequence. Dendrons up to three generations were synthesized and some of the dendrons were attached to a benzenoid core so as to obtain dendrimers up to two generations containing 12 carboxylic acids at the periphery. Divergent synthesis involving ether as the core was found to be more facile, and dendrimers up to three generations having 16 carboxylic acids at the periphery were achieved in good to excellent yields in each individual step. The adopted synthetic sequence allows us to install either alcohol, an amine, or a carboxylic acid at their peripheries. The carboxylic acid-terminated dendrons and dendrimers were evaluated as to their cytotoxic properties, and while most dendrons and dendrimers did not exhibit any measurable cytotoxicity, even up to 100 microg/mL, the second-generation dendrimer with the benzenoid core exhibited a mild toxicity at concentrations above 30 microg/mL.